Pretoria - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will depart later today Sunday 12 July 2015 for the Peoples Republic of China where he lead a South African delegation on an official visit from 13-17 July 2015. Deputy President Ramaphosa’s delegation will include Ministers Lynn Brown, Blade Nzimande and Deputy Ministers Nomaindia Mfeketo, Thembi Majola, Mcebisi Jonas, Mzwandile Masina, senior government officials, business and state owned entreprises executives.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa’s visit will focus on economic and trade matters and, specifically, on how state-owned enterprises can be utilised to promote economic growth and address challenges of poverty and unemployment. Accordingly, Deputy President Ramaphosa’s will thus focus on the Peoples Republic of China state-owned entreprises and how South Africa could utilise the Chinese model in its own re-industrialisation process.
 
During his visit Deputy President Ramaphosa will pay a courtesy call on President Xi Jinping and meet Premier Li Keqiang. He will hold bilateral discussions with his counterpart, Vice President LI Yuanchao in Beijing to discuss a number of issues  within the context of the Five-to-Ten Year Strategic Programme, which was signed by President Jacob Zuma during his state visit to the country.
 
These relate to, inter alia, trade and investment cooperation, financial cooperation (also in the context of the BRICS New Development Bank), infrastructure development, energy issues, vocational training and South Africa’s co-hosting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which will be hosted later this year in South Africa.
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will also visit the Chinese Academy of Governance to explore potential areas of cooperation, particularly in the area of skills development for middle and senior Government officials.
 
While in Beijing, Deputy President Ramaphosa will address the South Africa-China State owned Entreprises Seminar and a Business Forum Lunch. The Deputy President will also visit the Beijing Economic Technological Development Area (BDA) a state-level economic and technological development zone.
 
Visit to Qingdao - 16 July 2015
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will visit the coastal city of Qingdao, which has over 50 percent of the country’s ocean-related research institutes. In this context, Deputy President Ramaphosa will meet the management of Haier and Hisense and the China Rail Company, home to China’s high speed train factory.
 
Hisense Co Ltd, a multinational white goods and electronics manufacturer, recently expanded its existing operations in South Africa by establishing a manufacturing centre in Atlantis, Western Cape.
 
Visit to Shenzhen - 17 July 2015
 
Deputy President Ramaphosa will then conclude his programme on 17 July 2015 by visiting Shenzhen Comprehensive Traffic Command Centre which is a programme of initiatives supported and advanced by ICT and managed and run by a governing entity in order to improve the quality of experiences for residents, business and visitors.
 
While in Shenzhen Deputy President Ramaphosa will visit the Shenzhen Port, the world’s third largest container port and  the headquarters of Huawei which is interlinked with the Smart City on all levels, including municipal services, urban ICT infrastructure and real-estate, such as smart buildings.
 
General information on relations with the Peoples Republic of China
 
The Peoples Republic of China is currently South Africa’s largest trading partner. Total trade between our two countries experienced an upward trajectory since 2009, growing from R118 billion to R271 billion by the end of 2013, but decreased to R261 billion by the end of 2014. We believe that this visit is an important step towards increasing our trade with the Peoples Republic of China.
 
At a political level, South Africa’s relations with the Peoples Republic of China is at the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) underpinned by the Beijing Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which encapsulates all facets of relations between the two countries.  Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to return to South Africa on 18 July 2015.
 

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria