The Chinese government is looking to import more food from South Africa in a bid to reduce its reliance on agricultural exports from USA and Australia, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) quoted the Chinese ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng as saying to local media.
For decades, South Africa’s exports to China had been mainly minerals and metals but recent had included products such as soyabeans, wine, rooibos tea, aloe gel and citrus fruits, the 16 July report said.
“This year, we are working hard with the South African side towards signing export protocols for … more goods including wool, dairy products, pet food and wild aquatic products,” Wu told IOL News.
“The Chinese government is committed to advancing high-level opening-up. We are ready to share our … market with all countries, including South Africa.”
South Africa has been China’s largest trading partner in Africa for 14 consecutive years, with trade in the first half of this year totalling US$27.5bn, according to China’s General Administration of Customs.
In the same period, imports from South Africa increased by 10.7% to US$17.29bn year-on-year, while Chinese exports to the African nation dropped by 18.6% in that period to US$10.2bn.
According to Lauren Johnston, an associate professor at the University of Sydney’s China Studies Centre, the focus was initially expected to be on increasing exports of products which were in demand, such as chillies, nuts, avocadoes and citrus fruits.
Johnston also said that Beijing wanted to increase trade with African countries to reduce its dependence on countries such as the USA and Australia – particularly for products such as soyabeans, which were a vital source of feed for China’s large pig population.
China would benefit by importing products such as wool and pet food from South Africa because it would free up arable land for use at home, she added.
“Anything that reduces pressure on China’s arable land and agricultural productivity without creating or deepening trade dependencies is good for China,” Johnston said.
