counterpart
15 May 2007
Pretoria: South African Foreign Minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will on
Tuesday, 15 May 2007, depart Brussels for Beijing, China where she is expected
to hold bilateral political and economic discussions with her counterpart
Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi on Sunday, 20 May 2007.
Minister Dlamini Zuma was in Brussels where she led a senior South African
Government delegation, including Ministers Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and
Marthinus van Schalkwyk, to the South Africa - European Union (SA-EU)
Ministerial Troika meeting. In China, discussions between Ministers Dlamini
Zuma and Yang come within the context of South Africa's priority to consolidate
political, economic and trade relations with the People's Republic of
China.
Issues on the agenda of discussions between Ministers Dlamini Zuma and
Jiechi are expected to include, among others:
* the status of bilateral political and economic relations between both
countries
* preparations for the Binational Commission scheduled to be held in the second
half of 2007
* celebration of the 10th anniversary of diplomatic relations
* a briefing on political developments in Africa including peacekeeping and
conflict resolution
* a briefing on developments in Asia
* other issues of global importance.
While in Beijing, Minister Dlamini Zuma is also expected to pay a courtesy
call upon the Chinese Premier and visit Shanghai. Minister Dlamini Zuma will
depart from Beijing for Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday, 22 May 2007, where she will
provide political support to President Thabo Mbeki during his State visit to
Vietnam.
Bilateral engagement with China
South Africa's strategic engagement with China is a key foreign policy
priority. South Africa and China share many of the same social and
developmental challenges, including those induced by globalisation and historic
inequity. China has been identified as a key global actor with whom South
Africa seeks to broaden relations in support of South-South co-operation,
another key objective of South Africa's foreign policy.
In this context, South Africa hopes to mobilise China's support to promote
African concerns in the United Nations and other multilateral fora. The Forum
on China-Africa Co-operation was initiated in October 2000, as the chief
instrument of engagement between the People's Republic China (PRC) and
Africa.
South Africa adopted the "One China" Policy in December 1997, resulting in
the severing of diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Full diplomatic relations
with the PRC were established in January 1998. Emphasising the strategic
importance of these relations was the signing of the Pretoria Declaration on
Partnership in April 2000 and the programme for Deepening Strategic Partnership
in June 2006. A Binational Commission was established in 2002, the third
session of which is scheduled to be held during 2007. President Mbeki concluded
a State Visit to the People's Republic of China in November 2006 and both
Premier Wen Jiabao (June 2006) and President Hu Jintao (February 2007) visited
South Africa. These visits underline the strength of the bilateral
partnership.
South Africa is China's key trade partner in Africa, accounting for nearly
21 percent of the total volume of China-Africa trade. In 2006 South African
exports amounted to nearly R14,02 billion, with imports reaching R46,72
billion. In 2006 China became South Africa's second largest import trading
partner and sixth largest export partner.
South Africa's exports to China consist mainly of raw materials such as
aluminium, nickel, manganese, zirconium, vanadium oxides, chromium ores, and
granite, platinum and gold. China' exports to South Africa have included mainly
manufactured products, such as footwear, textiles, plastic products, electrical
appliances, tableware and kitchenware. The complementary nature of the two
economies provided the impetus for the growth of trade. At the same time,
bilateral trade amounts to only a very small percentage of both China and South
Africa's international trade profile, suggesting that there is still enormous
potential for an increased exchange of goods and services.
China and South Africa: Trade Statistics (Rand â000) â Stats supplied by
Department of Trade and Industry (dti)
2006:
SA exports: R14 019 861
SA imports: R46 718 798
Trade balance: -R32 698 937
2005:
SA exports: R8 763 191
SA imports: R31 476 631
Trade balance: -R22 713 440
2004:
SA exports: R6 580 392
SA imports: R23 021153
Trade balance: R16 440 760
2003
SA exports: R6 704 340
SA imports: R16 600
Trade balance: -R9 895 910
If one considers trade between South Africa and the Greater China region
(PRC, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan), South African exports in 2006 amounted to R
23,54 billion, while South African imports from the region amounted to R56,98
billion. Total trade between South Africa and the Greater China region
therefore reached a massive R 80,52 billion during 2006.
The role of China in Africa
Since 2000, China's trade with Africa had nearly tripled to $39,8 billion in
2005. Trade between China and Africa reached $55,5 billion in 2006, an increase
of 40 percent year-on-year. China exported $26,7 billion to Africa, an increase
of 43 percent over the previous year, while China imported goods worth $28,8
billion from Africa, up 37 percent. Raw materials and agricultural products are
still major African exports to China and the export of high-tech products is
also on the rise.
By the end of 2005, China had invested $6.27 billion in 49 countries in
Africa, in sectors such as trade, production and processing, resource
development, transportation, agriculture and development of agricultural
products.
Beyond commercial ties, Beijing has cultivated "soft power" in African
capitals by training over 6 000 African civil servants and are sending over 15
000 Chinese doctors to 34 African countries. There are approximately 800 firms
that are operating in 49 African countries.
The driving force behind China's relations with Africa is its demand for
resources. Developing countries and particularly African states can provide the
natural resources China desperately needs. Chinese officials believe Beijing
can increase its oil and gas imports from Africa, which currently supplies 30
percent of China's total imports.
Although China's primary interest in Africa is energy, it has major
interests in other natural resources, particularly metals, food and timber. It
exports textiles and low-cost consumer goods, primarily electronic and
high-technology products, and invests in infrastructure. China backs its
trading relations with aid, debt relief, scholarships, training and the
provision of specialists. It is also a major supplier of military hardware, and
has supplied peacekeepers to the Democratic Republic Congo (DRC) and Liberia
and election observers to Ethiopia.
Enquiries:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
15 May 2007
