From ANA
SA Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Beijing, China, on Monday for an official visit, the presidency said. Ramaphosa is leading a government, business and state-owned enterprises delegation on an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from July 13-17, spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said.
He said Ramaphosa was expected to hold bilateral political and economic discussions with Vice-President Li Yuan Chao, followed by a meeting with Li Qiang, the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on Tuesday. On Tuesday night, Ramaphosa is expected to interact with the Leadership of the Chinese Academy of Governance and he would address a banquet in his honour.
Mamoepa said: “The bilateral discussions between Deputy President Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart Vice President Li Yuanchao are expected to focus on trade and investment cooperation, financial cooperation including the BRICS New Development Bank, infrastructure development, energy issues, vocational training and SA’s co-hosting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to be hosted later this year in SA.”
These bilateral discussions will take place within the framework of a five-to-ten year strategic programme President Jacob Zuma discussed during his state visit to the People’s Republic in December 2014.
Ramaphosa’s visit to China was on economic and trade matters with specific reference on how state-owned enterprises could be utilised to promote economic growth while addressing challenges of poverty and unemployment, Mamoepa added. He said that Ramaphosa was expected to visit several Chinese state-owned enterprises with a view to learning how SA could utilise the Chinese model in its own re-industrialisation process.
The delegation which went with Ramaphosa included Public Enterprises minister Lynne Brown and Higher Education minister Blade Nzimande, as well as deputy ministers Thembi Majola, Mzwandile Masina, Mcebisi Jonas, senior government officials, business leaders and state-owned enterprise executives.
