“Together, let’s harvest more ‘golden fruits’ in the ‘golden era’,” said Wu, who is also a former ambassador to Kenya.
Wu, who arrived in Pretoria on Monday, said he looked forward “to working with all to take our comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height, according to a statement from the embassy.
The Chinese foreign ministry’s former director general of African affairs Wu Peng has arrived in South Africa to begin his tenure as Beijing’s ambassador at a time of rising geopolitical tensions.
Observers said Wu’s appointment is in line with Chinese tradition of appointing a senior ambassador to South Africa, which remains the continent’s largest trading partner with China.
After leaving Pretoria, Lin was appointed president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. “This background shows how important South Africa is in China’s continued quest to have a solid foothold in Africa,” Matambo said.
“South Africa is likely to reciprocate this esteem by being even more receptive than has hitherto been the case to China’s overtures, and being more aligned with China’s global outlook.”
David Shinn, a China-Africa specialist at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs, said the appointment was “no surprise” and could lead to further senior assignments for Wu, as was the case with Chen.
“South Africa has long been considered one of China’s most important relationships in Africa [and] the appointment simply underscores the importance that Beijing attaches to [the] relationship,” he said.
This was especially true “at a time when the power structure is changing in Pretoria”, Shinn added, referring to the recent elections which saw the ruling African National Congress fail to secure a simple majority.
The ANC received 40 per cent of the popular vote, ending the party’s 30-year majority control of South Africa’s parliament following the end of apartheid. Its long time rival and second-largest party the Democratic Alliance secured 22 per cent.
Rhamaphosa’s inauguration was attended by Xiao Jie, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy and vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said China stands ready to work with the new government “to enhance political mutual trust, broaden practical cooperation … and build a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future”.
On his arrival in Pretoria on Monday, Wu said that even though China and South Africa are geographically far apart, the two countries enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges and a special bond of “camaraderie plus brotherhood”.
Noting that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, Wu said China is ready to work with South Africa to “carry forward friendship, deepen cooperation and seek common development”.
Wu was welcomed to Pretoria by Yoliswa Mvebe from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, who said South Africa was ready to provide what help he needed in assuming his office.
Mvebe also said South Africa would work with China to deepen the traditional friendship between the two countries, “expand mutually beneficial cooperation and drive greater development of the bilateral relations”.
Two-way trade between China and South Africa reached US$55.62 billion in 2023 – at 19.7 per cent accounting for the lion’s share of China’s total trade with the continent in that year.
China mostly buys South African raw materials, including gold, diamonds, platinum, and copper, as well as manganese, chromium, iron and zinc ores and ferroalloys.
Beijing has recently started buying food products such as citrus, maize and nuts. South Africa also plans to make its first shipment of avocados to China later this year following customs approval.
In return, South Africa imports Chinese electrical and electronics equipment and machinery, including broadcasting equipment, computers, and electric batteries.…Read more by Jevans Nyabiage
