South Africa is set to reinforce its strategic trade partnership with the People’s Republic of China as Deputy President Paul Mashatile prepares to lead a senior government delegation to the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), scheduled to be held in Beijing from 16 to 20 July 2025. The announcement was formally made by the South African Presidency on Sunday, 13 July.
According to the official communiqué from the Presidency, this engagement marks a significant step forward in enhancing the South Africa–China “all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era”, a term used by both governments to signify deepening bilateral cooperation across economic, technological, and developmental domains. The participation in CISCE not only underscores South Africa’s long-standing diplomatic and economic ties with China but also positions the country as a key conduit for trade and investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
The China International Supply Chain Expo, launched by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), serves as a major platform for international cooperation in integrated supply chains. South Africa’s presence at the third iteration of this event is expected to leverage this platform to attract targeted Chinese investment in several key sectors, including renewable energy, logistics, pharmaceuticals, mineral beneficiation, and the digital economy.
South Africa’s focus on special economic zones (SEZs) and infrastructure development is aligned with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has increasingly targeted Africa’s industrial corridors. The Presidency confirmed that the South African delegation will showcase a “robust pipeline of investable projects” aimed at appealing to Chinese investors, particularly in areas where clean technologies and industrial digitalisation intersect with developmental imperatives.
In addition, the bilateral engagement will seek to expand cooperation on digital skills development, industrial standards harmonisation, and sustainable development technologies. These initiatives echo the commitments made under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where South Africa has been an influential advocate for value-added trade and innovation-driven collaboration.
This strategic engagement with China, South Africa’s largest individual trading partner for over a decade, also complements Pretoria’s broader goal of economic diversification and structural transformation. According to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), China accounted for over 11% of South Africa’s global exports and nearly 21% of imports in 2024, primarily in mineral commodities, machinery, and electronics.
The Deputy President’s attendance at CISCE not only represents diplomatic goodwill but also a calculated move to solidify economic partnerships that can deliver long-term growth, resilience in supply chains, and greater participation in global industrial value chains. By articulating a forward-looking investment narrative, South Africa aims to enhance its role as both a recipient and originator of industrial innovation within the Global South.
