Chairperson of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Gao Yan attended and addressed the South Africa-China Business Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 18. Li Nan, Charge d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Daryl Swanepoel, Co-convenor of the ANC (African National Congress) Progressive Business Forum, Martin Kingston, Vice-President of Business Unity South Africa, Kaizer Nyatsumba, Chief Executive Officer of Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa (SEIFSA), Delegations from Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) were in attendance.

Gao Yan said, China and South Africa are major emerging economies in the world, with complementary economies and huge potentials for cooperation.

“CCPIT is willing to strengthen cooperation with South African counterparts to build a platform and provide services for enterprises of the two sides to further match-making cooperation. The enterprises should strengthen cooperation, especially in investment and production capacity, tapping bilateral trade potentials and promoting policy coordination,” added Gao.

Daryl Swanepoel, "Belt and Road" initiative provided new fields and routes for South Africa-China cooperation. China-Africa cooperation is open and mutual beneficial. South African take an active role in "Belt and Road" construction and China- Africa cooperation, which will bring broad opportunities for cooperation between the two sides.

More than 250 business delegates from both sides attended the forum.

Also present at the meeting were heads of CCPIT Department of Development Research and Department of International Relations, and China Chamber of International Commerce Training Center.