Premier Lesufi Returns from China with New Trade and Cooperation Agreements
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has returned from a successful working visit to the People’s Republic of China, where he led a high-level delegation to the 4th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo and held strategic engagements in Hunan Province and Shenzhen Municipality from June 9-15.
The visit marked a significant step in deepening economic and developmental ties between Gauteng and key Chinese provinces, particularly Hunan, which has emerged as a leading trade partner with Africa.
Premier Lesufi was accompanied by MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, as well as senior government officials led by Director-General Edward Mosuwe.
A major outcome of the visit was the signing of a formal Agreement on the Establishment of Friendship Provinces Relationship and a Memorandum of Understanding on Twinning Arrangement between Gauteng and Hunan Province.
These agreements pave the way for expanded cooperation in areas including energy, transportation, infrastructure development, agricultural modernization, trade, law enforcement collaboration, and cultural exchange.
In separate meetings, Premier Lesufi met with Mr. Mao Weiming, Governor of Hunan Province; Mr. Song Junji, Vice Governor of Shandong Province; and Mr. Dai Jintao, Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Municipality.
The leaders shared ideas and committed to exploring partnerships that will boost development and job creation in both countries.
Premier Lesufi described the visit as a mission to unlock real trade and economic opportunities for Gauteng’s people. “We said it! We are doing it. During the State of the Province we indicated that in June, we will sign a groundbreaking tariff-free agreement with the People’s Province of Hunan, China, to allow our SMMEs to take their products to the 66 million people strong market of Hunan,” Lesufi wrote in a post on X during the visit.
As part of the weeklong programme, the Gauteng delegation visited several enterprises and institutions in both Hunan and Shenzhen. These included factories, agricultural tech hubs, transport innovation centres, and trading companies with strong Africa-focused operations.
These visits were aimed at identifying concrete business linkages, learning from China’s advanced technologies, and inviting Chinese investors to explore opportunities in Gauteng’s fast-growing sectors.
The South African delegation also attended the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) in Hunan, where about 25 Gauteng-based SMMEs showcased their locally produced items to thousands of Chinese buyers and attendees from around the world.
Hunan Province, which reported over 8.07 billion yuan (approximately R20.5 billion) in exports to Africa in the first four months of 2025, has positioned itself as a bridge for industrial and commercial exchange between China and the African continent.
With South Africa being Hunan’s largest trading partner in Africa, the timing of the partnership with Gauteng could not have been more strategic.
The Gauteng government now plans to follow up with implementation teams to assist SMMEs in navigating export requirements and prepare them to enter the Chinese market.
Premier Lesufi’s China mission has been widely praised as a bold and practical move to elevate Gauteng’s global trade footprint, promote local industries, and support township-based enterprises looking to scale internationally.