China Reiterates Commitment to Free Trade and Multilateralism Amid Bilateral Cooperation with South Africa

Consul General Pan Qingjiang emphasized the importance of strengthening docking cooperation between Chinese and South African enterprises to further develop bilateral relations during a customer appreciation event in Johannesburg on May 9, 2025. The event, jointly organized by the China Commercial Bank and Standard Bank South Africa, brought together over 70 representatives from Chinese and South African enterprises. In his speech, Consul General Pan introduced the China-South Africa relations and economic and trade cooperation, encouraging the enterprises to strengthen cooperation and promote the further development of bilateral relations.

Key Takeaways:

• Consul General Pan Qingjiang attended a customer appreciation event in Johannesburg on May 9, 2025, hosted by the China Commercial Bank and Standard Bank South Africa.
• Consul General Pan emphasized the importance of strengthening docking cooperation between Chinese and South African enterprises to further develop bilateral relations.
• China expressed its commitment to resisting unilateral protectionism and hegemonic bullying, promoting free trade and multilateralism, and building an inclusive global economy.
• The event brought together over 70 representatives from Chinese and South African enterprises, including Li Li, Chief Representative of ICBC's African Representative Office, and Barnes, Head of Standard Bank's Corporate and Investment Banking Department.
• Consul General Pan elaborated on China's consistent and firm position on the issue of the abuse of tariffs by the United States and expressed China's willingness to continue to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with South Africa and other countries in the world.

Statistics:

• The event was attended by over 70 representatives from Chinese and South African enterprises.
• China expressed its commitment to resisting unilateral protectionism and hegemonic bullying, promoting free trade and multilateralism, and building an inclusive global economy.

Sources:

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China
• China Commercial Bank
• Standard Bank South Africa
• ICBC's African Representative Office (via Li Li's statement)
• Standard Bank's Corporate and Investment Banking Department (via Barnes' statement)