On December12, 2025, Consul General Ren Faqiang published an article titled "How China Aims to Carry Forward the Flame of Friendship with South Africa" in Cape Times. The full article reads as follows:

On November 30, I arrived in Cape Town, South Africa, to assume my new position as the 10th Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Cape Town. I feel greatly honored and also deeply conscious of the significant responsibilities.

This is my first time to be posted in an African country. Africa is widely regarded as the birthplace of humanity and a cradle for the early human civilizations. Cape Town is the oldest city in South Africa and is affectionately known as the Mother City. Upon my arrival on this vast and vibrant land, my eyes were greeted by the majestic Table Mountain and the stunning coastal scenery. People of diverse complexions and languages wear brilliant smiles on their faces, and the cultural diversity, openness and inclusiveness here are truly admirable.

China and South Africa are good friends and good partners with a special bond of “comrades plus brothers”. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the Heads of State of the two countries, China and South Africa bilateral relations have achieved leaping development and delivered real benefits to people in both countries. In 2024, the Heads of State of the two countries announced the elevation of the China-South Africa relationship to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, charting the course for our bilateral relations.

The economic and trade cooperation between China and South Africa has a solid foundation. South Africa was the first African country to sign the Belt and Road cooperation document with China and has been China's largest trading partner in Africa for 15 consecutive years. In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between China and South Africa reached 52.46 billion US dollars, accounting for nearly 20% of the total China-Africa trade volume. In November this year, 32 South African enterprises participated in the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in China, with South African wines and rooibos tea emerging as viral hits among Chinese consumers.

People-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and South Africa have been rich and vibrant. South Africa hosts the largest number of Confucius Institutes in Africa, with a total of seven established across the country, four of which are located within the three Cape Provinces. This year, South Africa’s Trusted Tour Operator Scheme (TTOS) digital platform was officially launched, and Chinese Visa Application Service Centre Cape Town Office also rolled out an expedited visa service, facilitating the travel and exchanges between people of the two sides. I came across a group of Chinese tourists during my visit to Signal Hill a few days ago.

Standing at a new historical starting point and looking ahead, the cooperation between China and South Africa boasts broad prospects and enormous potential. Not long ago, the fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China deliberated and adopted the Recommendations for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, outlining a blueprint for China’s development over the next five years. This not only injects strong impetus into the drive for Chinese Modernization, but also brings new development opportunities to countries around the world, including South Africa. During the 20th G20 Leaders' Summit this year, China and South Africa jointly launched the Initiative on Cooperation Supporting Modernization in Africa, which supports African countries including South Africa in their efforts to independently explore modernization paths suited to their national conditions, and achieve sustainable development. This stands as a major step taken by China to deepen China-Africa cooperation and advance Africa’s industrialization and agricultural modernization.

Since assuming office, I have paid a courtesy call on Premier Alan Winde,and engaged with friends from all sectors. I have deeply felt the earnest expectations of all circles in the Western Cape for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation with China. During my tenure, I am ready to work with all sectors across the three Cape Provinces to fully implement the important consensus reached by the Heads of State of the two countries, strengthen communication and collaboration,and make new efforts to advancing the continuous development of the China-South Africa all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, and jointly building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future.