China urged for stronger trade and investment connections with South Africa while committing to enhance collaboration in industrialization, agriculture, and market entry.

Business advocacy organizations from both countries established a formal agreement to enhance economic ties.

The agreement entered into by Business Unity South Africa and the South Africa-China Economy and Trade Association is a significant advancement in aiding South Africa to diversify its exports, stated Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng during a ceremony in Midrand, near Johannesburg.

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"I trust that the event today will help companies discover valuable partners and bring fresh energy to enhancing trade and increasing investment," he remarked.

Pretoria is strengthening economic connections with Beijing as the global community deals with rising tensions caused by restrictive trade tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump’s administration.

As South Africa negotiates to lower a 30 percent tax on its exports to the US, China aims to eliminate tariffs on imports from nearly all African nations to strengthen relations.

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Wu stated that over 30 countries in Africa have agreed to framework accords for zero-tariff policies.

“China stands eager to collaborate with South Africa to swiftly execute the zero-tariff measures, allowing a greater number of South African products to access the Chinese market with favorable conditions,” he stated.

 

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China is the biggest trading partner of South Africa, with bilateral trade between the two nations estimated at $53.9 billion last year, over twice that of the US, the second-largest.

South Africa’s strengthening ties with Beijing might hinder access to vital technology.Taiwan — viewed by China as its territory — enacted limits on the export of semiconductor chips to South Africa. The action demonstrates the island's economic power and an increasing irritation with being marginalized by China in the diplomatic arena.