Improved China-Africa relations expected to top agenda at Focac, says new Ambassador Wu Peng

By Abbey Makoe

The new Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, has the hit ground running barely weeks after arriving to strengthen diplomatic ties between Beijing and Pretoria.

Amb Wu begins his term of office at a time when the flourishing bilateral relations between the two nations – well into the 26th year – are described as cruising in the “golden era”.

China has been SA’s biggest trading partner for more than a decade – in fact, for 14 years in a row. However, the entire African continent has reaped the benefits of heightened economic cooperation with China over the last 15 years. This clearly demonstrates the adherence to a mutually beneficial, win-win arrangement where all parties gain.

But Amb Wu is not only focusing his attention on SA. He is acutely aware of the importance of regionalism in global affairs, in Africa in particular.
In his previous occupation, the newly-appointed top envoy to SA served as China’s Director-General of the Department of African Affairs in the strategic Foreign Ministry.

As SA is a mainstay in the region of SADC (Southern African Development Community), Amb Wu hopes to see the amplification of China’s economic interest affect as many people as possible – in a truly positive way.

Where the cake is large, many can afford their own slice when sharing. As they say, “The more, the merrier”. In the SADC region known for its high unemployment rate, poor living standards and mushrooming poverty, China’s Road and Belt Initiative programme could come in handy. It is a programme that focuses on infrastructural development, job and wealth creation particularly among women and the youth, society’s most vulnerable groups.

Amb Wu is a keen communicator and believes in openness along the lines of performing his duties. In one of his first media interviews since arriving in SA a couple of weeks ago, Amb Wu expressed sheer joy and appreciation at the warmth he felt from his hosts in the nation’s capital, Pretoria.

“The people here are so kind and hospitable,” says Amb Wu, who arrived in the middle of a chilly winter season. “I feel warmer because of the friendliness of the people,” he says.

He says apart from SA’s amazing weather, the country’s “massive resources are a basis to achieve sound development”.

Tapping into his previous experience and knowledge about the continent and his new host nation, Amb Wu explains: “In the past three decades – under African National Congress governments – South Africa made great progress in socio-economic development. To that, I say congratulations.”
He also finds SA’s strong development as a “perfect example of the rise of the Global South”, he says.

In relation to his role as the new top envoy, Amb Wu says: “As the new Chinese Ambassador, it is my duty to promote friendship, exchanges and practical cooperation between our two countries, and the region – where possible. By all accounts, the peoples of our nations can only prosper through cooperation.”

Given that China is the world’s second-biggest economy, SA and the continent can benefit immensely from the country of 1.4 billion in the area of modernization.

Technological development, sport, arts, culture and people-to-people diplomacy are the fundamental building blocks in international development. Cooperation in geopolitics and economic affairs is one of the key drivers of progress.

China’s experience in the eradication of poverty is phenomenal and has received accolades from the UN itself. In the last decade alone, China was able to take at least 800 million people out of poverty.

In SA, for example, Amb Wu intends to give special attention to two pressing matters, i.e. renewable energy and job creation for the youth.
“China is quite strong in Electric Vehicles (EV) and solar energy,” he says. “We are well-positioned to cooperate in these fields. Chinese EVs such as BYD and King Long are already working with African businesses in countries like Ethiopia and Kenya to assemble electric busses locally,” he explains.

Furthermore, according to Amb Wu, “Chinese EVs are not only making it easier and more carbon-friendly for Africans to travel but also creating massive local jobs for the young people”. This is thanks to the collaboration at the local level, he says.

“As Ambassador, I look forward to working with friends from all communities to strive for shared development. I am confident that China relations in South Africa and elsewhere will harvest more golden fruits to benefit the people,” says Amb Wu.

He also says “The Chinese government is committed to advancing high-level opening up. We are ready to share our mega-sized market with all countries,” he reveals.

“Trade cannot flourish without the catalyst of strong people-to-people exchanges,” he says. 

The next Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit will take place in Beijing in September. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to lay out the latest plans and guidance on win-win China-Africa relations.