Deputy President Paul Mashatile: Closing remarks at the 9th session of the South Africa–China Bi-National Commission

Your Excellency Vice President HAN Zheng, dear colleagues and friends,

I wish to express my profound gratitude for today's engagements and your leadership in co-chairing this successful 9th Session of the South Africa-China Bi-National Commission.

Today's proceedings have injected renewed momentum into our bilateral relations and reaffirmed the importance of this platform as the apex mechanism guiding cooperation between the two nations

Our deliberations today have also enabled us to take stock of progress since the 8th Session and to assess implementation under the Ten-Year Strategic Programme for Cooperation.

We have noted with appreciation the outcomes of the Foreign Affairs Sectoral Committee, which reaffirmed our shared commitment to advancing development, addressing debt sustainability, strengthening climate action, and promoting the reform of international financial institutions to better reflect the interests of developing countries such as ourselves.

South Africa further welcomes the continued strengthening of coordination within multilateral platforms, including BRICS, which is playing an increasingly important role in advancing a more inclusive, equitable and multipolar global order, as well as our shared commitment to safeguarding multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

South Africa also notes the importance of strengthening political dialogue through platforms such as the Strategic Dialogue and the Joint Working Group, which will ensure sustained engagement on regional and global priorities, and the effective implementation of BNC outcomes.

With that being said, in the area of Trade and Investment, South Africa welcomes the progress made in advancing cooperation in key sectors, including the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) and the China National Nuclear Corporation in April 2025, as well as ongoing engagements through the China-South Africa Mining Working Group.

We are encouraged by the growing collaboration in energy planning, gas-to-power and nuclear-to-power development, as well as the shared commitment to deepen cooperation in mineral processing, beneficiation and value addition, which are critical to strengthening South Africa's industrial base for economic growth.

South Africa further notes the importance of expanding investment cooperation, including mobilising Chinese investment into initiatives such as the Junior Mining Exploration Fund, revitalising smelters, and strengthening South Africa's position within global value chains.

In the Environmental and Infrastructure sector, South Africa welcomes progress in cooperation on small harbours, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as ongoing negotiations on protocols and agreements that will strengthen market access and technical collaboration.

South Africa also notes the advancement of cooperation in biodiversity conservation, ecosystem management, and environmental research, including progress on agreements relating to wetlands, desert ecosystems and wildlife.

In the area of Science and Technology, we are encouraged by the agreement to expand joint research projects and flagship initiatives, as well as the strengthening of people-to-people exchanges between researchers. To this end, South Africa welcomes the growing cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, innovation and digital technologies, which will support technology localisation, skills development and the advancement of sustainable economic growth.

In the field of Education and Culture, we commend the expansion of scholarship programmes supported by our Sector Education and Training Authorities, as well as initiatives such as the Chinese STEM Bursary Programme and partnerships with institutions such as Beijing Polytechnic College.

We are encouraged by the focus on technical and vocational education and training, which is equipping young South Africans with critical skills, including in emerging sectors such as new energy vehicle technologies, which are creating pathways into employment through partnerships with industry.

In a rapidly changing global environment, shaped by shifting leadership dynamics and rising geopolitical tensions, including ongoing conflicts in regions such as the Middle East, South Africa and China, countries must continue to work together to advance shared modernisation, deepen economic cooperation, and strengthen coordination in multilateral platforms, while promoting dialogue, stability and peaceful resolution of disputes.

Your Excellency, I once again thank you for your leadership and partnership in today's engagements and look forward to concluding our discussions later this evening at the banquet dinner hosted in your honour in Constantia Winelands, where we will have the opportunity to enjoy some of South Africa's finest African cuisine and hospitality.