What Deputy President Mashatile's meeting with China's Premier Li Qiang means for South Africa
Deputy President Paul Mashatile leads the South African delegation in talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who headed the visiting Chinese delegation, during a post-G20 bilateral meeting in Sandton.
Image: Paul Mashatile/ X
Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile met China’s Premier Li Qiang in Sandton on Sunday, after the conclusion of the G20 Leaders’ Summit, as South Africa continued efforts to strengthen political, economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.
The courtesy meeting took place at the NH Hotel and followed Mashatile’s visit to China in July, shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State Visit. According to the Presidency, Sunday’s engagement was aimed at consolidating the countries’ “All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the New Era”.
Talks focused on expanding South Africa’s value-added exports to China, increasing Chinese investment in beneficiation and manufacturing, and enhancing cooperation in renewable energy and the digital economy.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile leads the South African delegation in talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who headed the visiting Chinese delegation, during a post-G20 bilateral meeting in Sandton.
Image: Paul Mashatile/ X
Mashatile emphasised the importance of integrating South African firms into Chinese and global value chains to support inclusive growth and create jobs, especially for young people.
He also expressed appreciation for China’s support during South Africa’s G20 presidency, after the summit — which concluded on Sunday — adopted the G20 Declaration by overwhelming consensus.
“I would like to reaffirm South Africa’s appreciation for China’s support, including its generous contributions of RMB2 million (R5.34 million) to DIRCO and an additional USD2 million (R36.8 million) in support of South Africa’s G20 presidency and Leaders’ Summit,” he said.
High-level engagements between the two countries will continue, with the 4th People-to-People Exchange Mechanism and the 13th South Africa–China Strategic Dialogue scheduled to take place back-to-back in Beijing in December. South Africa will also host the Bi-National Commission in March 2026.
Mashatile was accompanied by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau; Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile was accompanied by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa; Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau; Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka.
Image: Paul Mashatile/ X
President Cyril Ramaphosa also held a bilateral meeting with Premier Li on Friday on the margins of the G20 summit at the Sandton Convention Centre.
That discussion focused on advancing strategic objectives in trade, investment, industrialisation, multilateral cooperation and governance, and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to deepen political and diplomatic ties.
IOL News