Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi hosted a bilateral meeting with Ms Ge Huijun, Chairperson of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Shandong Provincial Committee, to deepen cooperation between the two provinces.
The Shandong delegation’s visit to Gauteng aimed to formalise long-standing relations through the signing of a new cooperation framework agreement. This framework seeks to enhance collaboration in trade, infrastructure development, technology exchange, and education.
The strategic relevance of Shandong to Gauteng builds on the broader South Africa–China strategic partnership, which was elevated to an All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a New Era in September 2024. South Africa is currently Shandong’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with a bilateral trade volume of US $2.63 billion in 2023.
Shandong Province remains a major Chinese industrial hub, while Gauteng serves as South Africa’s economic powerhouse. Strengthening cooperation between the two regions is key to expanding investment, driving industrial growth, and creating sustainable jobs across Gauteng.
Premier Lesufi emphasised that partnerships like this are central to advancing Gauteng’s economic growth strategy, aligning with South Africa’s broader efforts to deepen trade and development ties with China.
Ms Ge Huijun commended Gauteng’s proactive approach to international collaboration, highlighting Shandong’s interest in sharing expertise in industrial innovation, green energy, and public administration. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained cooperation and mutual progress.