Johannesburg: Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s office has described his meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday in Johannesburg as an opportunity to further South Africa’s strategic goals in trade, investment, industrialisation, multilateral cooperation, and governance, while also strengthening political and diplomatic relations with China.

According to South African Government News Agency, during the meeting, Deputy President Mashatile emphasised South Africa’s readiness to expand value-added exports and attract greater Chinese investment in beneficiation, manufacturing, renewable energy, and digital sectors. The integration of South African firms into Chinese and global value chains was highlighted as a means for inclusive growth and job creation, particularly for the youth.

This high-level engagement follows President Ramaphosa’s State Visit and Deputy President Mashatile’s visit to China in July 2025. The aim was to strengthen and enhance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the new era. G20 leaders have reached an overwhelming consensus to adopt the declaration during the G20 Leaders’ Summit held at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg.

Deputy President Mashatile expressed gratitude for China’s substantial financial and developmental support for South Africa’s G20 Presidency and its other initiatives. South Africa’s second-in-command acknowledged China’s generous donations of R5.34 million to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, as well as an additional R36.8 million to support South Africa’s G20 Presidency and Summit.

In a prior meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa before the G20 Leaders’ Summit, Premier Li expressed Beijing’s readiness to partner with Pretoria in protecting the multilateral trading system and advancing the prompt implementation of a zero-tariff policy for South African products.

The position of Premier in China is the highest administrative role in the government, responsible for organising and administering the Chinese civil bureaucracy. South Africa is set to participate in the 4th Session of the South Africa-China High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism (PPEM) and the 13th South Africa-China Strategic Dialogue, both taking place in Beijing in December 2025.