In the morning of 28^th July 2020, Mr. Yusuf Timol, Minister Counselor of the Republic of South African Embassy, visited the China Concrete and Cement-based Products Association (CCPA). Executive President Dr. Xu Yongmo of CCPA had an in-depth discussion with Mr. Yusuf Timol. Ms Huang Ling and Mr Chen Long from CCPA’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Department, and Dr. Chen Yu, Director of the Science and Technology Department, also participated.

Executive President Dr Xu Yongmo first expressed his warm welcome to Mr. Timol’s visit and his concerns to the covid-19 epidemic in South Africa. Furthermore, he introduced the basic situation of China's building materials industry, concrete and cement-based products industry, infrastructure construction and overseas investment by member enterprises in South Africa and other African countries.China is currently South Africa's largest trading partner. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, China's new contract value in South Africa in 2019 was US$1.06 billion; the completed turnover was US$560 million.

Minister Counselor Mr. Timol indicated that South Africa and China are a comprehensive strategic partnership. Both are members of the BRIC countries and are also members of the Belt and Road Initiative. South Africa is the strongest and second largest economy in Africa in terms of comprehensive strength. It is a middle-income developing country with a GDP accounting for about 20% of Africa and a total population of 58.78 million. The two countries have huge potential for cooperation, especially in the mining, construction, and Free Trade Zone development. The current President Ramaphosa attaches great importance to introducing direct foreign investment to South Africa. Starting from 2018, the "Presidential Investment Forum" will be held at the end of each year. Each participator will receive an invitation letter signed by President Ramaphosa. Chinese participants are an important investment force among them. South Africa has an advanced manufacturing center, well-equipped industrial unites, and an open, sound economic foundation. At the same time, South Africa faces the African market with a population of 1.2 billion and is the bridgehead of the African continent. We believe that Africa is the next emerging market after China and India. Mr. Timol also extended an invitation to the member companies of CCPA and welcome everyone to visit and invest in South Africa.

Dr.  Xu Yongmo and Mr. Yusuf Timol exchanged ideas on cooperation of industry standards, technological innovation, information exchange, and joint development of other overseas markets. Dr. Xu also briefly introduced the product export and investment intentions of BBMG Jidong Cement and Hangjia New Materials. Dr Xu hoped to receive further assistance and support from the Commercial Office of the South African Embassy in China to help members to expand their business in South Africa.

The visit of Mr Yusuf Timol, Minister Counselor of the South African Embassy in China, laid a good foundation for the close cooperation between CCPA and the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa. CCPA will further implement the working mechanism with the Trade  Office of the South African Embassy, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the South African government, industry associations and enterprises. The two sides are planning to organize an Investment on South Africa Seminar in the 2020 China International Concrete Expo at the end of this year in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province to encourage more members to visit South Africa in the future.

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