Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma is to undertake a state visit to the world's second largest economy, the People's Republic of China next week.
The three-day state visit will see Zuma paying a courtesy call on the Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice President of China Xi Jinping and Chairman of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo, according to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
On his arrival on Thursday, Zuma is expected to visit the South African Pavilion at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. The expo, which was opened on 1 May and will continue until 31 October 2010, has attracted over 100 million visitors.
A business seminar has also been planned with over 200 South African business leaders and entrepreneurs to further enhance and strengthen economic cooperation in Beijing. Zuma will also witness the signing of business contracts between South African and Chinese companies.
The department said the aim of the visit will be to strengthen and broaden economic and commercial interaction between the two countries with a view to strengthening the voice of the developing world and its capacity to address the needs of its people.
The visit will also demonstrate appreciation for the importance that South Africa attaches to its political, economic and cultural relationship with China.
Although strengthening ties and business will be a top priority, the President will interact with non-state actors to further strengthen South Africa's public diplomacy.
South Africa's trade relations with China have expanded dramatically since 1998, the department said, adding that China became South Africa's largest export destination by country since the start of 2009, and China remains South Africa's largest partner with regards to imports.
The total trade between the two countries is R119 7 billion and grew by 2 percent in 2009, compared with R118 billion in 2008 thus allowing China to overtake the United States as South Africa's largest export destination.
However, trade statistics with China continue to reflect the potential that still exists for expanding the commercial relationship.
Zuma's state visit takes place within the context of strengthening South-South cooperation with the objective of deepening and broadening the current bilateral relations to a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between South Africa and China.
During the visit several agreements are expected to be signed, including the Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in mineral resources, environment management, transport and railways.
