South Africa’s newly formed 10-party coalition government is looking to strengthen ties with China and boost agricultural exports to the Asian nation as part of a strategy to revitalize its economy and address a staggering 34% unemployment rate, Bloomberg reports.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, part of a South African delegation attending the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, outlined the government’s plans in an interview with Bloomberg Television.
“We are focusing on making sure that we build strong relationships with China and that at a technical level, our agricultural products are able to meet the phytosanitary and biosecurity requirements of China,” said Steenhuisen.
South Africa already exports large quantities of citrus and beef to China, and the government is seeking to expand the range of goods sold.
China surpassed the European Union as South Africa’s largest trading partner last year, with bilateral trade totaling $55.2 billion, with a balance in Pretoria’s favor. Both nations are members of the BRICS bloc, a group of developing nations that includes Brazil, Russia, and India. The bloc aims to challenge Western dominance in the global economy.
Steenhuisen, who leads the centrist Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, joined President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of national unity after the May 29 elections failed to produce a clear winner.
“We look forward to using this relationship in a strategic way to benefit South Africa,” Steenhuisen said. “I think that we are getting a lot more out of the relationship than losing.”
The focus on strengthening agricultural exports to China aligns with the new coalition government’s broader economic strategy, which aims to stimulate growth and create jobs. T
