On September 18, Consul General Ren Faqiang of the Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town met with Helen Sauls-August, Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature. The two sides exchanged views on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Chinese localities and the Eastern Cape Province. Deputy Speaker Vuyo Jali, Chief  Whip Loyiso Magqashela, Secretary to the Legislature Nomawethu Ngcakani attended the meeting.

Consul General Ren said that the Eastern Cape enjoys distinctive strengths in automobile manufacturing, port logistics and other industries, and Chinese enterprises have a sound foundation for investment and development in the province. He expressed hope that the Eastern Cape would continue to support and assist Chinese enterprises operating locally. China attaches importance to exchanges between local legislative bodies and hopes that the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature will strengthen contacts with local people's congresses in China and explore greater space for subnational exchanges and cooperation.

Speaker Helen said that the Eastern Cape attaches great importance to developing cooperation with China and will, as always, support the development of Chinese enterprises in the province. She expressed hope that, with exchanges between legislative bodies as a link, the Eastern Cape will strengthen exchanges with sisiter provinceZhejiang and other localities in China, and promote deeper and more substantive exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.