Amid rising global protectionism and economic headwinds, the People’s Republic of China is holding firm to the course of globalization by unswervingly expanding high-level opening-up and always sharing development opportunities with the world.
This was said by Chinese Consul General in Johannesburg Pan Qingjiang at a high-level seminar titled China’s Development, Global Opportunities, hosted on Thursday evening.
Hosted at the Chinese Consulate in Sandton, the seminar followed last month’s Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing, where the party adopted proposals for the country’s 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development.
The landmark session mapped out China’s next phase of growth from 2026 to 2030 — a period described as critical for achieving socialist modernization by 2035 — with an emphasis on high-quality development, innovation, and green transformation.
Consul General Pan said the new development blueprint signals China’s intent to deepen international cooperation even as globalization faces uncertainty. He stressed that opening-up remains a defining feature of Chinese modernization, with Beijing committed to maintaining the multilateral trading system, encouraging two-way investment, and sharing the dividends of its “supersized market” with partners around the world.
A partnership anchored in mutual growth
For South Africa, that message carries direct significance, said Pan. Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa, China–South Africa relations have expanded into what Pan called an “all-round strategic cooperative partnership in a new era.”
He highlighted that China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, while South Africa remains China’s biggest partner on the continent. More than 200 Chinese companies have invested over US$11 billion in South Africa, creating around 400,000 local jobs across sectors such as manufacturing, energy, mining, and agriculture.
In his address, Pan reflected on how China’s long-term planning model, guided by successive Five-Year Plans since 1953, has underpinned the country’s transformation into the world’s second-largest economy. He credited the leadership of the Communist Party of China for steering the nation toward industrialization and social stability in a matter of decades — a process that took Western nations centuries to complete.
“China has completed the industrialization process that took Western developed countries hundreds of years in just a few decades,” he said, highlighting the country’s achievements in innovation, poverty eradication and environmental protection.
During the current 14th Five-Year Plan period, China’s GDP is expected to reach 140 trillion yuan by the end of 2025, while contributing around 30% to global economic growth.
From high-tech to high-quality growth
Pan said China’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index has climbed from 34th in 2012 to 10th this year, reflecting advances in artificial intelligence, quantum communication, and high-end chip production. He also pointed to China’s emergence as a global leader in renewable energy, where one in every three kilowatt-hours consumed now comes from green sources.
Beyond economic data, Pan said, China’s progress has tangible human dimensions — rising life expectancy, universal education, the world’s largest social security and healthcare systems, and the eradication of absolute poverty.
“China’s clear direction, steady pace, and remarkable achievements have injected valuable certainty and stability into the turbulent and complex world economy,” he added.
Economic certainty in uncertain times
The Consul General said the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) marks a crucial bridge toward achieving China’s long-term goal of socialist modernization by 2035. The new plan, he said, will continue to prioritize high-quality development, deepen reform, and integrate technological innovation with green transformation.
It will focus on building China into a “manufacturing, quality, aerospace, transportation and cyber powerhouse,” while also advancing people’s well-being through better education, healthcare, and employment.
“China will continue to consolidate the foundation of people’s livelihood and promote common prosperity for all,” Pan said.
“The giant ship of China’s path to modernization will surely ride the wind and waves and sail to a broader sea.”
Sharing development with the world
Pan reaffirmed that even as global trade faces uncertainty, China will maintain an open stance.
“At present, economic globalization is encountering headwinds, and unilateralism and protectionism are intensifying. However, China still firmly embraces economic globalization and regards opening-up as a hallmark of Chinese modernization,” he said.
Pan cited data showing that China remains a magnet for global commerce — with trade in goods and services ranking first and second globally, and cumulative foreign investment exceeding US$700 billion over the past five years. He said the country has reduced its negative list for foreign investment to just 29 items and continues to expand free-trade pilot zones aligned with international standards.
Trade that transforms communities
Pan said that under the guidance of Presidents Xi and Ramaphosa, relations between China and South Africa have entered the “new era of all-round strategic cooperation”. He noted that the two countries continue to strengthen coordination through platforms such as the Belt and Road Initiative, the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and the BRICS bloc, describing the partnership as “heralding a strong momentum of growth and embracing an exceptionally promising future.”
“Amid the profound changes in today’s global landscape, our relationship has become increasingly significant in strengthening the power of the Global South and promoting regional and world peace and development,” Pan said.
He highlighted trade and investment as key pillars of the relationship. In recent years, Chinese demand for South African produce has steadily grown, with 68 agri-food products now cleared for export to China.
Ninety percent of South Africa’s pecans and half of its macadamias are sold to Chinese buyers, alongside growing exports of avocados and dairy products.
“These products have enriched the food baskets of Chinese consumers, and more importantly, increased the incomes of South African farmers and exporters,” Pan said.
Billions invested, thousands employed
Pan said Chinese investment in South Africa spans key sectors including new energy, automobile manufacturing, digital economy, mineral processing, and agro-processing.
“China stands ready to work with South Africa to deepen industrial and supply-chain cooperation, support manufacturing upgrades and local content, and advance connectivity projects in agro-processing, cold-chain logistics, ports and economic corridors,” he said.
Pan urged South Africans across government, business and civil society to take advantage of the opportunities presented by China’s modernization and global opening-up. He said both countries stood to benefit by aligning their development agendas and deepening cooperation in emerging industries.
Support from South African partners
The seminar in Sandton drew an audience of South African politicians, business leaders, academics, government representatives, and local and international media figures, who engaged in open discussion after Pan’s address.
Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Morakane Mosupyoe, said the province is eager to learn from China, leveraging the BRICS partnership.
“I think it is also important to note that China did not arrive at this overnight. This has been your 35th Five-Year Plan, so we need to be realistic also in whatever plans we draw. It is long-term planning, and the plan must be sustained for it to be successful.
“That is one area of importance to us, so that we don’t put ourselves under unnecessary pressure as a country and think that we can do things overnight. It is not done that way,” she said.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng provincial leader, Solly Msimanga, who was recently in China, said he had witnessed how the Asian giant has embraced green energy and cutting-edge technology while creating boundless opportunities for its people.
“For me, there’s an element about how we ensure that the technological changes taking place do not replace the ability for human beings to be able to make ends meet. This is one thing that China is striking a balance on — to say you don’t just replace with machines, but you need to empower and educate people,” said the former Tshwane mayor.
City of Joburg Speaker, Margaret Arnolds, told the gathering: “I am in full agreement with the Speaker of Gauteng (Mosupyoe), that we can learn quite a lot from China. I also believe that China’s transformation in its economy over the last four decades has been built on careful planning, strong institutions, and a commitment to improving the lives of its people. This approach offers valuable lessons for us and for all developing economies, including South Africa”.
On the other hand, African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament Tshilidzi Munyai said South Africa–China relations must be strengthened, building on the current strong ties.
“The development of China benefits the rest of the world. It is shared development. The key issue is about the multilateral trading system. The WTO (World Trade Organisation) in its current form does not serve the rest of the world — it serves the interests of the developed world. South Africa–China relations are the nerve centre of our country. It is important because Chinese development is different — the cooperation is win-win, which is different from the West’s model of development,” said Munyai.
“China in Africa has left standard-gauge rail system infrastructure in Tanzania, Kenya and Nigeria, the African Union headquarters, and the biggest bridge being developed in Mozambique. China has not colonised Africa — but those that colonised Africa, who now say they want to work with us, what have they left for African countries?
“Our posture must be to strengthen China–South Africa relations as the foundation and building blocks to integrate the rest of the African continent.”
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