According to a statement issued by the Presidency, the Deputy President’s participation signals a renewed commitment to strengthening the “all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era”—a term jointly adopted by the two nations to reflect a broadened and deepened bilateral agenda. This partnership encompasses a wide spectrum of collaboration, particularly in the realms of economic growth, technological advancement, and sustainable development.

South Africa’s involvement in CISCE underscores not only its longstanding ties with China but also its ambition to serve as a gateway for trade and investment into sub-Saharan Africa. The Expo, launched by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), is rapidly becoming a central forum for global engagement in supply chain innovation and cross-border industrial cooperation.

During the event, South Africa will seek to attract targeted Chinese investment in several high-priority sectors. These include renewable energy, logistics and transport infrastructure, pharmaceutical production, mineral beneficiation, and the digital economy. The country’s strategy aligns closely with China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which has placed increasing emphasis on Africa’s industrial corridors and infrastructural development as part of its global expansion.

A key aspect of South Africa’s investment promotion at CISCE will be the presentation of a comprehensive pipeline of “investable projects,” many of which are located in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) designed to catalyze regional economic growth. These projects are particularly focused on integrating clean technologies, smart manufacturing, and digital industrialisation in support of inclusive development goals.

Beyond trade and investment, the South African delegation is expected to pursue expanded cooperation on digital skills development, alignment of industrial standards, and adoption of green technologies. These efforts are consistent with South Africa’s advocacy within the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where it continues to champion value-added trade and innovation-led economic partnerships.

China has been South Africa’s largest single trading partner for over ten years, a trend that continues to grow. In 2024, trade statistics from the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) show that China represented over 11% of South Africa’s exports and nearly 21% of its imports, with key trade items including minerals, electronic components, and heavy machinery.

https://trendsnafrica.com/china-and-south-africa-pledge-deeper-military-cooperation-during-high-level-talks-in-beijing/

Deputy President Mashatile’s attendance at CISCE is not only symbolic of deepening diplomatic goodwill but is also a strategic economic move. It represents South Africa’s intention to secure long-term trade and investment relationships, enhance resilience within its supply chains, and bolster integration into global industrial value chains.

By promoting a forward-looking investment narrative at CISCE, South Africa aims to position itself as both a leading destination for sustainable industrial investment and a source of innovation-driven solutions within the Global South, further anchoring its role in shaping future global trade and development frameworks.