President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to embark on a State Visit to the People’s Republic of China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. He will also participate in the Forum on China – Africa Cooperation Summit (FOCAC).
The State Visit and FOCAC Summit are scheduled to take place in Beijing from 2 – 5 September 2024.
In August 2023, President Xi Jinping visited South Africa on his fourth State Visit, reinforcing the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries which have been established since formal diplomatic relations were formed twenty five years ago.
South Africa and China have a significant trade relationship, with China being South Africa’s largest trading partner globally and South Africa being China’s top trading partner in Africa. Bilateral trade between the two countries saw an increase from R614 billion in 2022 to R692 billion in 2023.
The State Visit of President Ramaphosa to China will officially commence on Monday, 2 September 2024, with a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. Prior to the bilateral discussions, President Ramaphosa will pay tribute to Chinese revolutionaries by laying a wreath at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tiananmen Square.
The relationship between South Africa and China is classified as a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), supported by a Ten-Year Strategic Programme of Cooperation (2020 – 2029).
During the visit, South Africa and China will sign agreements aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and advancing technical collaboration, particularly in human settlements, agriculture, and science and technology.
President Ramaphosa will promote South Africa’s economic ties with China by visiting Shenzhen, a technology hub in the Guangdong Province, on Tuesday, 3 September 2024. He will engage with industry leaders and tour the headquarters of two tech companies as part of the bilateral business program of the State Visit.
On Wednesday, 4 September 2024, the President will address the South Africa – China Business Forum on the sidelines of the FOCAC in Beijing.
President Ramaphosa will participate in the FOCAC Summit on Thursday, 5 September 2024, under the theme “Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”. He will co-chair the High Level Panel Seminar on “Accompanying Africa in Industrialization, Agricultural Modernization and Green Development to Embark on the path to Modernization” with Mr Wang Huning, the Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
South Africa’s involvement in FOCAC is aimed at advancing Africa’s development as outlined by the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa we Want and its related Flagship Programmes.
A Declaration and Action Plan (2025-2027) will be released as the outcome documents of the 2024 FOCAC Summit.
The President will be accompanied by various ministers and senior government officials on the State Visit to China and FOCAC, including ministers of International Relations, Science and Technology, Human Settlements, Small Business Development, Presidency, Trade Industry and Competition, Electricity and Energy, Public Works and Infrastructure, Higher Education, and Agriculture, as well as Premiers of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo province.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.