From March 20 to 24， H.E. Siyabonga C. Cwele， South African Ambassador to China， led a delegation to Chongqing and attended China （Chongqing）-South Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Seminar.

Attendees of the Conference include H.E. Chen Xiaodong， Chinese Ambassador to South Africa， Zhao Shiqing， Deputy Director-General of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Peoples Congress， and almost 200 representatives from the governments and companies of Chongqing， Mpumalanga， Gauteng， and Buffalo. They joined the meeting in person or virtually， exploring the potential cooperation between the two sides.

“South Africa is one of Chongqings most important partners in Africa. Fruitful achievements have been made in our cooperation and exchanges in economy， trade， science， and education，” said Mr. Zhao in his address. In 2022， the total volume of exports and imports between Chongqing and South Africa reached RMB4.11 billion， up by 39.3% year-on-year.

Over two decades ago， Chongqing and Mpumalanga established the sister-city relationship. Friendly and cooperative relations were established between Chongqing Municipality and Gauteng Province， Chongqing Yubei District and Buffalo City， becoming quality platforms for exchanges between Chongqing and South Africa. It is hoped that the Conference will be an opportunity to connect the industries of the two sides， enhance mutual understanding， and deepen the practical and friendly cooperation between Chongqing and South Africa. It has promoted the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa to new heights.

“The friendship between China and South Africa is special because it features comrade plus brotherhood，” said H.E. Ambassador Chen Xiaodong. South Africa is one of Chinas important partners for cooperation in the economy， trade， and investment in Africa.

China has been South Africas biggest trading partner for 14 consecutive years， and South Africa has been Chinas biggest trading partner in Africa for 13 consecutive years.

In 2022， China-South Africa trade went up 5% despite COVID-19， hitting a new high in recent years at USD56.7 billion.

Sub-national cooperation and exchanges enjoy vigorous development， promoting cooperation in more fields.

H.E. Ambassador Chen Xiaodong was in high spirits when he saw that Chinese and South African government and business representatives gathered and discussed how to enhance cooperation and exchanges in the economy and trade.

The Embassy of China in South Africa actively supports the cooperation and exchanges between the two sides. It is ready to provide strong support and assistance for deeper cooperation and exchanges between Chongqing and the local governments and companies of South Africa.

H.E. Ambassador Siyabonga C. Cwele， who visited Chongqing for the first time， praised Chongqings economic and social development. He said that this visit enabled his deeper understanding of the urban vitality， strength， and charm of Chongqing， a mountainous city. South Africa is rich in natural and mineral resources with an abundant workforce. In addition， the telecommunications and financial sectors are well-developed. Up to now， more than 180 famous Chinese companies have invested and operated in South Africa. The economic and trade exchanges between the two countries have become increasingly close. South Africa is committed to creating a business environment conducive to trade and investment and accelerating economic transformation. In August this year， South Africa will host the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. South Africa and China will continue to make concerted efforts under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework. The South African Embassy in China hopes to strengthen communication and forge closer ties with Chongqing.

Li Mingquan， Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Government， expressed his hope that the economic and trade exchange meeting would deepen the mutual understanding between Chongqing and South Africa in the sectors of automobile， electromechanics， trade， agriculture， healthcare， tourism， and vocational education， laying a solid foundation for the next stage of cooperation between the two countries. The Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Government is willing to enhance communication with the South African Embassy in China and other relevant parties to foster practical collaborations.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Chongqing Committee and the Economic Department of the South African Embassy in China signed a cooperation agreement at the meeting. In the future， with the support of the South African Embassy in China， Chongqing plans to establish practical cooperation mechanisms with more South African economic and trade institutions， business associations， etc. Joint efforts will be made to achieve breakthroughs and scale new heights in mutual exchanges and coordination.

In the presentation session， representatives from Mpumalanga， Gauteng， and Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa， Chongqing Municipal Commission of Education， Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce， CCPIT Chongqing， and Yuzhong District and Yubei District of Chongqing municipality， gave introductions to relevant regions and fields. Representatives from over 70 companies and institutions in Chongqing and South Africa exchanged views on fields such as manufacturing， agriculture， engineering and construction， healthcare， export and import， tourism， vocational education， etc.， seeking business opportunities for win-win cooperation.

Source/Official WeChat Account of Chongqing Foreign Affairs

3月20日至24日，南非駐華大使謝勝文一行訪問重慶，并出席中國（重慶）—南非經(jīng)貿(mào)合作交流會。中國駐南非大使陳曉東（線上）、重慶市人大常委會副主任趙世慶出席活動。來自重慶與南非姆普馬蘭加省、豪登省、布法羅市政府和企事業(yè)單位代表近200人通過線上線下方式展開經(jīng)貿(mào)交流，挖掘雙方合作新潛力。

“南非是重慶在非洲最重要的合作伙伴之一，兩地在經(jīng)貿(mào)、地方友好、科技教育等領域開展了成果突出的交流與合作?！壁w世慶在致辭中表示，2022年重慶對南非進出口總額41.1億元，同比增長39.3%。重慶與姆普馬蘭加省已有20多年的友好城市關系，重慶與豪登省、重慶市渝北區(qū)與布法羅市也分別建立了友好合作關系，成為重慶與南非各層級交往的優(yōu)質平臺資源。希望以此次交流會為契機，推動雙方產(chǎn)業(yè)行業(yè)對接、增進相互了解，深化重慶與南非務實友好合作，為中南全面戰(zhàn)略伙伴關系向更高水平發(fā)展作出積極貢獻。

“中南有著‘同志加兄弟的特殊友好關系。”陳曉東表示，南非是中國在非洲深化經(jīng)貿(mào)與投資合作的重要伙伴。中國連續(xù)14年穩(wěn)居南非第一大貿(mào)易伙伴，南非連續(xù)13年成為中國在非洲最大貿(mào)易伙伴。2022年，中南貿(mào)易逆勢增長5%，高達567億美元，創(chuàng)近年新高。中南地方交流合作蓬勃發(fā)展，有力助推中南各領域合作?？吹街心险探绫姸啻砭€上線下歡聚一堂，共商促進中國重慶與南非有關省市的經(jīng)貿(mào)合作交流，他感到非常振奮。中國駐南非大使館積極支持中南地方開展經(jīng)貿(mào)交流合作，愿為包括重慶市與南非有關地方政府和企業(yè)進一步深化交流合作提供大力支持和幫助。

首次訪渝的謝勝文大使盛贊重慶經(jīng)濟社會發(fā)展成就。他表示，通過此次參訪，充分感受到了山城重慶的城市活力、實力與魅力。南非自然和礦產(chǎn)資源富集，勞動力資源豐富，電信通信、金融業(yè)等發(fā)展成熟。截至目前，有超過180家知名中國企業(yè)在南非投資并成功運營，兩國間經(jīng)貿(mào)往來日益密切。南非堅持創(chuàng)造有利于貿(mào)易投資的營商環(huán)境，并加快推動經(jīng)濟轉型。今年8月，南非將在約翰內斯堡舉辦2023年金磚國家領導人峰會，南非和中國將繼續(xù)致力于在中非合作論壇框架下開展密切合作。南非駐華大使館希望與重慶方面進一步加強溝通，建立更緊密的合作關系。

市政府外辦副主任李明全表示，希望借此次經(jīng)貿(mào)交流會，進一步增進重慶和南非在汽車、機電、貿(mào)易、農(nóng)業(yè)、醫(yī)療、旅游、職業(yè)教育等領域的相互了解，為兩地下一步合作奠定更加堅實基礎。重慶市政府外辦愿與南非駐華大使館等相關方面，進一步加強溝通與聯(lián)系，共同助推更多務實合作成果。

會上，重慶市貿(mào)促會與南非駐華大使館經(jīng)濟處簽署合作協(xié)議。未來，在南非駐華大使館的支持下，重慶計劃與更多南非經(jīng)貿(mào)機構、商協(xié)會等建立友好務實合作機制，推動交流合作實現(xiàn)新突破、邁上新臺階。

互動交流環(huán)節(jié)，南非姆普馬蘭加省、豪登省、布法羅市，重慶市教委、市商務委、市貿(mào)促會，渝中區(qū)、渝北區(qū)有關負責人分別圍繞相關區(qū)域、領域作推介發(fā)言。來自重慶、南非兩地的70余家企業(yè)、機構代表圍繞制造業(yè)、農(nóng)業(yè)、工程建設、醫(yī)療、出口貿(mào)易、旅游、職業(yè)教育等多個領域積極開展對接交流，共謀合作商機，促進互利共贏。

文圖/重慶外事微信公眾號