From 24 to 27 November 2005, an 18-people Northern Cape provincial delegation led by Premier Ms Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, consisting of MEC for Local Government & Housing Mr J F van Wyk, MEC for Finance & Economic Affairs Mr O P Dikgetsi made a friendly visit to Hunan Province. During the visit, Northern Cape delegation met with the Governor of Hunan Province Mr Zhou Bohua. A series of counterpart meetings between Northern Cape delegation and Hunan Development & Reform Commission, Department of Finance, Department of Agriculture and Department Commerce were held, in which, experience of diversifying economy, fighting poverty and creating jobs was exchanged, and the possibility of substantial co-operation in the field of agriculture, agro-processing, mining and mineral processing, etc, was seriously discussed as well.

Northern Cape is a big resource province in South Africa. It established sistership relations with Hunan Province in April 2003. Ms Elizabeth Dipuo Peters is the first Northern Cape Premier who has visited Hunan.