Beijing is diversifying its import portfolio by incorporating more agricultural products from South Africa, aiming to lessen its reliance on traditional suppliers like the United States and Australia. The Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, highlighted the move towards expediting the importation of South African agricultural goods. This initiative is part of China's broader strategy to open its market to international goods, as stated by Wu Peng to IOL News.
Trade between China and South Africa has seen South Africa as China's premier trading partner in Africa for over a decade, with trade volumes reaching US$27.5 billion in the first half of the current year. Despite a decrease in Chinese exports to South Africa, imports from the African nation have seen a rise, emphasizing the growing importance of South Africa in China's trade strategy.
Lauren Johnston of the University of Sydney's China Studies Centre noted the potential for increased exports of in-demand products such as chillies, nuts, avocados, and citrus fruits from South Africa to China. Additionally, Beijing's interest in enhancing trade with African nations is part of a larger effort to improve agricultural productivity, rural incomes, employment, and food security in the region while reducing dependency on imports from countries like the US and Australia.
Source: scmp.com