Xie Shengwen, South African Ambassador to China, is very concerned about China's development trends. Xie Shengwen said that South Africa is currently committed to promoting coordinated regional development, and China's development experience has brought great inspiration to South Africa.

South Africa is located at the southernmost tip of the African continent and is known as the Rainbow Country. The impression given to the outside world is usually desert, high temperature and dry. However, it is in such a natural environment that the scientific and technological team in Hubei has successfully grown rice, making the country of the rainbow full of rice flowers. As a land of fish and rice in Asia, Hubei's rice technology has benefited many countries along the Belt and Road, and rice has also become one of the bridges between Hubei and South Africa.

Multi-field cooperation between China and South Africa

In recent years, Hubei and South Africa have had close exchanges. Relying on Hubei's advantages in science and education resources, the two sides have reached a series of practical cooperation. In December 2022, at the first China-Africa Industrial Innovation and Technology Transfer Cooperation Forum held in Wuhan, Hubei, Hubei University of Technology signed an agreement with South Africa’s University of Winda to jointly build a Confucius Institute and a memorandum of cooperation on the establishment of a hydrogen energy strategy research institute.

Xie Shengwen, South African Ambassador to China: Education is very important to developing countries. There are many excellent universities in beautiful Hubei, as well as institutions dedicated to technological and digital advancement research.

Ambassador Xie Shengwen said that since joining the One Belt One Road circle of friends in 2015, South Africa’s infrastructure construction has been greatly improved. These projects are crucial to South Africa’s strengthening of connectivity with other countries and the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area .

Xie Shengwen, South African Ambassador to China: South Africa is the first African country to sign a memorandum of cooperation with China on the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative is very important to our economy and infrastructure. The infrastructure that China has helped us build is very beneficial, it strengthens the connection between countries, and the cities are connected to each other. Not only connecting our cities and rural areas, this infrastructure also connects us to our neighbors. Intra-African trade only accounts for 17% of the continent's total trade, due to our cooperation with Chinese enterprises and companies, this proportion is increasing, will soon reach 20% and continue to grow. This is very important, because we are advancing the construction of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

According to Ambassador Xie Shengwen, the Belt and Road Initiative not only helps South Africa improve its infrastructure construction, but also provides new opportunities for South Africa's digital transformation.

Xie Shengwen, South African Ambassador to China: We are in the process of energy transition, turning to new energy. This allows us to see more opportunities to cooperate with global companies, especially Chinese companies. At the same time, our production system is also undergoing upgrading and transformation. 40% of Africa's production comes from South Africa, but we need to transform the existing production system into a more digital modern system. We're building digital infrastructure -- data centers to support equipment for our telcos. Companies from all over China have been investing heavily in technology companies in our space and supporting our telecom companies to build this digital infrastructure.

Listen to South Africa's BRICS proposal

2023 is the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. Over the past 25 years, China and South Africa have deepened bilateral relations in various fields, and achieved fruitful results in mutually beneficial cooperation. One of the most important and dynamic bilateral relations.

What is the secret to the continuous development of friendly relations between China and South Africa?

Xie Shengwen, South African Ambassador to China: The relationship between China and South Africa is solid, which is based on several important pillars. The first is the political pillar, then the economic pillar, and the third is the cultural exchange pillar. It is very fortunate that our leaders on both sides have established a good and cordial relationship of mutual respect. They discussed not only bilateral issues, but also global issues facing us as a human being, and the leaders of both sides encouraged us to strengthen economic ties. The trade between South Africa and China has been very resilient. We export a lot of South African goods to China and import a lot of high-quality products from China.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, South Africa has also taken over China's BRICS presidency as the BRICS rotating presidency. Ambassador Xie Shengwen said that in August 2023, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will host the 2023 BRICS Summit, and the world will once again listen to the BRICS proposal.

Xie Shengwen, South African Ambassador to China: This is why more and more countries want to join the BRICS countries, because they believe that the BRICS countries are a positive choice when facing challenges. When BRICS leaders meet, they offer viable options for peaceful development paths. We offer viable proposals for reform of the United Nations and financial institutions that are more representative and fairer for all of us.Editor/Ma Xue