共话合作 共谋发展 中国（重庆）—南非经贸合作交流会在渝举行

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，南非驻华大使谢胜文一行访问重庆，并出席中国（重庆）—南非经贸合作交流会。中国驻南非大使陈晓东（线上）、重庆市人大常委会副主任赵世庆出席活动。来自重庆与南非姆普马兰加省、豪登省、布法罗市政府和企事业单位代表近200人通过线上线下方式展开经贸交流，挖掘双方合作新潜力。

“南非是重庆在非洲最重要的合作伙伴之一，两地在经贸、地方友好、科技教育等领域开展了成果突出的交流与合作。”赵世庆在致辞中表示，2022年重庆对南非进出口总额41.1亿元，同比增长39.3%。重庆与姆普马兰加省已有20多年的友好城市关系，重庆与豪登省、重庆市渝北区与布法罗市也分别建立了友好合作关系，成为重庆与南非各层级交往的优质平台资源。希望以此次交流会为契机，推动双方产业行业对接、增进相互了解，深化重庆与南非务实友好合作，为中南全面战略伙伴关系向更高水平发展作出积极贡献。

“中南有着‘同志加兄弟的特殊友好关系。”陈晓东表示，南非是中国在非洲深化经贸与投资合作的重要伙伴。中国连续14年稳居南非第一大贸易伙伴，南非连续13年成为中国在非洲最大贸易伙伴。2022年，中南贸易逆势增长5%，高达567亿美元，创近年新高。中南地方交流合作蓬勃发展，有力助推中南各领域合作。看到中南政商界众多代表线上线下欢聚一堂，共商促进中国重庆与南非有关省市的经贸合作交流，他感到非常振奋。中国驻南非大使馆积极支持中南地方开展经贸交流合作，愿为包括重庆市与南非有关地方政府和企业进一步深化交流合作提供大力支持和帮助。

首次访渝的谢胜文大使盛赞重庆经济社会发展成就。他表示，通过此次参访，充分感受到了山城重庆的城市活力、实力与魅力。南非自然和矿产资源富集，劳动力资源丰富，电信通信、金融业等发展成熟。截至目前，有超过180家知名中国企业在南非投资并成功运营，两国间经贸往来日益密切。南非坚持创造有利于贸易投资的营商环境，并加快推动经济转型。今年8月，南非将在约翰内斯堡举办2023年金砖国家领导人峰会，南非和中国将继续致力于在中非合作论坛框架下开展密切合作。南非驻华大使馆希望与重庆方面进一步加强沟通，建立更紧密的合作关系。

市政府外办副主任李明全表示，希望借此次经贸交流会，进一步增进重庆和南非在汽车、机电、贸易、农业、医疗、旅游、职业教育等领域的相互了解，为两地下一步合作奠定更加坚实基础。重庆市政府外办愿与南非驻华大使馆等相关方面，进一步加強沟通与联系，共同助推更多务实合作成果。

会上，重庆市贸促会与南非驻华大使馆经济处签署合作协议。未来，在南非驻华大使馆的支持下，重庆计划与更多南非经贸机构、商协会等建立友好务实合作机制，推动交流合作实现新突破、迈上新台阶。

互动交流环节，南非姆普马兰加省、豪登省、布法罗市，重庆市教委、市商务委、市贸促会，渝中区、渝北区有关负责人分别围绕相关区域、领域作推介发言。来自重庆、南非两地的70余家企业、机构代表围绕制造业、农业、工程建设、医疗、出口贸易、旅游、职业教育等多个领域积极开展对接交流，共谋合作商机，促进互利共赢。

文图/重庆外事微信公众号