South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will conclude his official visit to the Peoples Republic of China by holding several meetings in the city of Shenzhen.
Deputy President Ramaphosa is currently leading a high powered government delegation comprising Minister Lynne Brown, Deputy Ministers Nomaindia Mfeketo, Mcebisi Jonas, Thembi Majola, Mzwandile Masina, Deputy Director-General in the office of the Deputy President Busani Ngcaweni, advisors Dr Nono Simelela, Adv. Nokukhanya Jele, Steyn Speed, Directors-General and senior government officials on his first official visit to the Peoples Republic of China.
During his stay in Shenzhen, Deputy President Ramaphosa will visit the Shenzhen Comprehensive Traffic Command Centre, as part of the integrated Smart City concept. The Command Centre is a programme of initiatives supported and advanced by ICT. It is managed and run by a governing entity in order to improve the quality of experiences for residents, business and visitors.
Key features of the Command centre include intelligent traffic systems, to build an entire high-speed network for combination and renovation of various industries as well as to further develop the construction of infrastructure for the enhancement of a city's management ability.
Deputy President Ramaphosa will also have an opportunity to visit the Shenzhen Port, the world's third largest container port and the headquarters of Huawei which is interlinked with the Smart City on all levels, including municipal services, urban ICT infrastructure and real-estate, such as smart buildings. Deputy President Ramaphosa and his delegation will later in the day interact with top executives of ZTE in Shenzhen
Deputy President Ramaphosa was visiting the Peoples Republic of China with specific reference to economic and trade matters and to study how state-owned enterprises can be utilised to promote economic growth and address challenges of poverty and unemployment in South Africa.
In this regard, Deputy President Ramaphosa visited a several Chinese state owned enterprises to see how South Africa could utilise the Chinese model in its own re-industrialisation process.
While in China Deputy President Ramaphosa held bilateral political and economic discussions with his counterpart, Vice President Li Yuanchao and Premier Li Keqiang within the context Five to Ten Year Strategic Programme, which was signed by President Jacob Zuma during his state visit to the Peoples Republic of China in 2014.
This strategic programme focuses essentially on trade and investment cooperation, financial cooperation with reference to the BRICS new Development Bank, infrastructure development, energy issues, vocational training and the co-hosting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), scheduled to be held in South Africa later this year.
Deputy President Ramaphosa also addressed the South Africa-China Business Forum, visited the Chinese Academy of Governance to explore possibilities of co-operation in training and skills development. He also addressed South Africa China state owned seminar and visited the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area (BDA) a state-level economic and technological development zone.
Deputy President Ramaphosa will return to South Africa on Saturday 18 July ahead of celebrations of the International Nelson Mandela Day.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
