Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says government would like to see more South African companies expand into China.

He said over 60 South African companies have travelled to China last year to engage with the country and collaborate on joint opportunities.

“South African companies are focussing their efforts on emerging economies for new opportunities, and access to the Chinese market is at the heart of their strategy,” he said, speaking at the China-South Africa Business Forum held in Beijing, China, on Wednesday.

“The recent expansion of Distell, a South Africa wine distributor, into China creates an opportunity to accelerate the excellent progress achieved so far, and build on its existing presence into this lucrative market.

“We would like to see more South African companies expand into China and the South African Expos in China provided a good platform to achieve this objective,” said the Deputy President.

He commended the commitment made by China to re-balance the nature of Africa’s burgeoning trade ties with China so that it will be sustainable over the long term.

He said South Africa and Africa have to ensure structural transformation of their trade with China, to enable China to import more value–added and labour intensive products, and to move away from the dependence on raw materials exports.

“The Expos proved that South Africa is not just about resources, and that we have many products and services to offer by way of value added, labour intensive and technologically advanced products.

“We are encouraged by the prospect that Chinese enterprises are increasing their investment in the South African manufacturing industries, in order to promote beneficiation of minerals at source,” he said.

The Deputy President said the recent announcement of Chinese financing for local beneficiation through the development of a metallurgical complex in Musina, is part of a new trend aimed at employment generating investment for South Africans.

He said this seems to be echoed in the expansion of Hisense and the FAW automotive manufacturing plants, discussions for the revival of the Coega Industrial Development Zone and even a prospective mixed-use residential, retail and light-industry facility east of Johannesburg.

“For South Africa, the hosting of the sixth Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2015 promises to be a major event on the diplomatic calendar.

“The FOCAC process, which is a tri-annual meeting and now formally includes the African Union, provides an opportunity for leaders to highlight the areas of cooperation and growth in China’s relationship with Africa,” he said.

China to drive African agenda

The Deputy President said South Africa also sees China as a vehicle to drive the African agenda of continental growth and development.

He said since South Africa chairs the African Union Commission, it is committed to initiatives that grow the African continent, and improve intra-African trade.

“China has consistently doubled its financing commitment to Africa during the past three FOCAC meetings -- from $5-billion in 2006 to $10-billion in 2009 and $20-billion in 2012.

“The announcement that China would finance and construct a railway link between Nairobi and the port of Mombasa, with possibility of extended routes to Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and South Sudan, is seen in this light,” he said.

Ramaphosa invited the Chinese business community to invest in South Africa, especially in the Special Economic Zones focussed on the ten investment projects agreed to between the respective governments.

“Both of our governments have agreed that we need to change the structure of trade away from commodity based trade, to trade in more value added products emanating from South Africa.

“To this end we have presented the Chinese government with a list of 10 value added products which we would like to see incorporated into your supply chains.

“We have already benefitted from skills and technology transfer and would like to encourage the Chinese government to continue to support us, as we work towards closing our skills gap,” he said.

China was a 21st Century partner for development and a unique catalyst for growth on the African continent.

He said South Africa would like to partner with China to ensure that China’s economic engagement are mutually beneficial, continues to lead to infrastructure development, greater economic participation and the greater good of both our countries.