South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile has highlighted that China and his nation are taking part in considerable cultural exchange.
During his visit to Beijing for the China International Supply Chain Expo today, the statesman said that South Africa is focusing on international exchange, particularly with the Global South.
Its something that exists currently where we are doing a lot of exchanges in music, dance and learning each others languages as needed.
It is occurring, said Mashatile.
We are encouraging people to people relations, with lots of countries, including China.
As part of FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation), we likewise have an agreement on cultural collaboration.
Mashatile described that the BRICS group, that includes both China and South Africa, is necessary for cooperation among the Global South.
We more than happy that we are part of BRICS.
And we see BRICS as an anchor for nations of the global south to work together much more highly, particularly in the face of rising protectionism for the West, especially the US & hellip; We need to safeguard our markets also, versus the tariff battle that the US has actually begun and we can only do so if we comply and work together & hellip; Thats going to exceed us and China.
All the countries of the Global South need to become part of this cooperation.
I think, if we do it, we will be able to endure the obstacles.
Mashatile was accompanied by South African cabinet ministers who talked about the work of their particular departments in their exchanges with China.
South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka said work is being done to enhance cultural diplomacy between the two nations.
Even here in China, through our objective in Beijing, we do partner with Brand South Africa (the authorities marketing firm of South Africa) and a number of organizations to enhance our cultural diplomacy programs, where we require to learn other peoples languages and likewise learn how they consume and how they dance through music, she stated.
And likewise, the Embassy of China (in South Africa) is working extremely carefully with us to work towards strengthening our cultural diplomacy with the Peoples Republic of China, she added.Meanwhile the nations Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille, who is likewise part of Mashatiles delegation, announced significant new travel initiatives to make access between the two nations much easier, consisting of new flights.
South African Airways, our own airline company, they will be reestablishing the flight in between Beijing and Johannesburg in October 2025, said De Lille, they are awaiting the shipment of new aircraft, there is a scarcity and a delay from Boeing, however by October 2025 we will restore the South African Airways flight between Beijing and Johannesburg.
De Lille likewise described the new visa application procedure for Chinese and other global visitors to South Africa.
We have presented a brand-new visa system to make it much easier for Chinese visitors to come to our nation & hellip; Its called the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, meaning that individuals who want to travel to South Africa, you dont require to go to our embassies or our consulates, you can obtain your visa by means of a trip operator.
We have up until now certified 19 Chinese tour operators.
And they apply in your place, if its a group of two or five or even 100.
And the (South African) Department of Home Affairs has set up a dedicated account supervisor to deal with the visa concerns from China.
So, weve seen a growth in between February and June this year, more than 18,000 applications that weve received through the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme, said De Lille.
In September of this year, South Africa will be introducing an electronic travel authorization, and thats going to be applicable for the whole world, where you can, from the convenience of your home, wherever you are, make an application for an online visa.
The turnaround time will be less than 72 hours, and the brand-new system that Home Affairs will be introducing is going to likewise utilize AI to help us with the verification of tourists to South Africa, she added.South Africa presently holds the Group of 20 (G20) presidency and will host the G20 Leaders Summit in November.
Mashatile said the upcoming top in Johannesburg is a chance to form collaborations.
We will be welcoming a lot of other businesses to come to South Africa in November as we convene the summit in Johannesburg.
A great deal of services will have opportunities on the margins of the G20, during the conference of the heads of state, to be able to continue to engage and try to find chances and indication contracts and partnerships, he stated.