Pretoria - South Africa and China will further strengthen ties when Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe pays an official visit to Beijing this week.
Motlanthe departs for China today at the invitation of Vice President Xi Jinping.
The Deputy President will hold official talks with the Chinese leadership on how to strengthen and consolidate political and economic relations between South Africa and China, the Department of International Relations said on Monday.
The visit will be held within the context of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration on the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership signed during President Zuma's State Visit to China in August 2010.
South Africa and China agreed to encourage trade in manufactured value-added products, encourage Chinese enterprises to increase investment in South Africa's manufacturing industry and developing of skills and provide industrial financing, among others.
South Africa and the China enjoy cordial bilateral political and economic relations. This is demonstrated by frequent high level visit exchanges, the number of cooperation agreements signed in various fields and the increase in trade between the two countries since the establishment of formal diplomatic relations in 1998.
Since the end of 2009, China has become South Africa's biggest trading partner. Exports from South Africa to China amount to over R39 trillion, and imports from China to South Africa amount to over R43 trillion.
Deputy President Motlanthe will be accompanied by the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba, Energy Dipou Peters, Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu, Deputy Minister of Finance, Nhlanhla Nene and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ebrahim Ebrahim. - BuaNews
