On 3 June, Ambassador Wu Peng held talks with Mr Edward Kieswetter, Commissioner of South African Revenue Service (SARS) and Mr Ayabonga Cawe, Commissioner of International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC). The three sides had in-depth exchanges on enhancing trade facilitation between China and South Africa, driving sustained healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations, as well as improving the trade structure.

Ambassador Wu Peng noted that China-South Africa relations have been upgraded to an all-roundstrategic cooperative partnership in the new era. China highly valuesits economic and trade relations with South Africa. In recent years, economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has come a long way, and trade, investment and people-to-people exchangeshave been increasingly deepened. China supports South Africa's industrialisation and modernisation drive. We are ready to assist with South Africa's inclusive growth agenda, strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, and jointly safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system.

SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetterunderlined that China is South Africa's largest trading partner, and South Africa is willing to work with China to see sustained healthy growth in bilateral trade. He hoped that South Africa will not only be a market for Chinese products, but also a destination for more Chinese investors. ITACCommissionerAyabonga Cawe said he would like to strengthen cooperation and information sharing with China in the field of trade remedies, to further streamline the flow of trade in goods and services between the two countries, and to create a fair, transparent and predictable trade environment.