China-South Africa trade fair opens in Johannesburg

JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The South Africa-China Trade and Investment Promotion Conference and the ninth China-South Africa Trade Fair opened in Johannesburg on Tuesday, drawing thousands of participants seeking to deepen trade and investment ties.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Zuko Godlimpi, South African deputy minister of trade, industry, and competition, noted the steady growth in bilateral trade, describing South Africa-China relations as a key example of South-South cooperation anchored in strategic collaboration.

"As the South African government, we remain committed to creating a business environment that is conducive to supporting trade and investment," Godlimpi said.

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng said the conference aimed to seize the opportunities created by the elevation of bilateral relations, stressing that skills and technology transfers highlighted at the forum would help advance South Africa's development goals.

"Today, starting with trade and investment cooperation, we aim to turn the shared vision into real action, and to address global challenges through practical cooperation," he said.

The three-day trade fair, running until Thursday, features more than 500 Chinese companies showcasing a wide array of products, including food, appliances, textiles, agricultural goods, and household items.