Gauteng Strengthens Ties with China’s Shandong Province to Boost Trade and Investment
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi hosted a high-level bilateral meeting this evening with Ms Ge Huijun, Chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Shandong Provincial Committee, to strengthen cooperation between South Africa’s economic hub and one of China’s most industrially advanced provinces.
The meeting forms part of a working visit by a delegation from Shandong Province aimed at formalising and deepening relations between the two regions through the signing of a cooperation framework.
The agreement seeks to enhance collaboration in key areas such as trade, infrastructure development, technology exchange, and investment promotion.
The engagement builds on the broader diplomatic ties between South Africa and China, which were elevated to an “All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a New Era” in September 2024. This upgraded partnership underscores both countries’ commitment to fostering mutual economic growth and long-term strategic cooperation.
Shandong, located along China’s eastern coast, is known as one of the country’s leading industrial and manufacturing hubs, contributing significantly to China’s economic output. It boasts advanced industries in machinery, electronics, chemicals, and renewable energy.
Gauteng, on the other hand, remains the economic powerhouse of South Africa, contributing nearly a third of the nation’s GDP. Home to Johannesburg and Pretoria, the province serves as the centre for finance, industry, and innovation in the country.
According to trade data, South Africa is currently Shandong’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with bilateral trade between the two reaching US$2.63 billion in 2023.
The renewed cooperation between the two provinces is expected to open new pathways for investment, skills exchange, and job creation — particularly in Gauteng’s manufacturing and technology sectors.
Premier Lesufi described the partnership as “a significant step towards positioning Gauteng as a gateway for Chinese investment in Africa” and reaffirmed the province’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial economic relations.
