July 23
Ms. Mary Vilikazi, CEO of FirstRand Group,
Mr. Erwin Pon, CEO of RMB China,
Friends of Business Community from both South Africa and China,
Good Morning!
Many thanks for the invitation to join you at this special event marking the official launch of Rand Merchant Advisory in Beijing.
On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Joburg, I wish to extend my warm applause and congratulation!
The launch of Beijing office is another milestone by FirstRand Group demonstrating its full confidence in and ambitious vision for Chinese Market and China-South Africa partnership.
Rand Merchant Bank(RMB) enjoys a natural connection with China and Chinese people as the acronym RMB is also for that of Chinese currency Renminbi.
On one occasion of engagement with world business leaders, Chinese President XI Jinping had the following remarks:
“Embracing China is embracing opportunities, believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future.”
It is true in that，to say a few, China’s GDP annual growth remains at an average rate of around 5% and continues to contribute 1/3 of global growth every year especially against the current unstable world economic situation.
China has a mega size market of 1.4 billion population. Among them are 400 million middle-income people,the number of which is expected to be doubled over next ten-plus years.
In the current Five Year Plan starting this year, China continues to pursue a high quality development driven by technology and innovation, and with more emphasis on low carbon and sustainable growth.
A more complete industrial system will be built with upgrading traditional industries and advancing emerging and future industries.
The message China sends to the world is consistent and clear: China will open its door to the outsidewider and with a higher standard. China commits itself to peace, development, cooperation and win-win results with the vision of building, together with the rest of the world, a global community with a shared future.
China-South Africa relationship is in its prime. With the guidance of the two presidents, China and South Africa are moving ahead on the road of building an All-round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the New Era featuring deeper political mutual trust, flourishing economic cooperation, robust people-to-people exchanges and closer coordination in regional and global affairs.
Economic and trade ties serve as the cornerstone and catalyst for China-South Africa relations.
China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for many consecutive years, while South Africa remains China’s top trading partner in Africa and one of its most important investment destinations.
In the first half of 2026, trade volume in goods between the two countries reached $31.58 billion, up 25.3% year-on-year. Thanks to the zero-tariff policy fully implemented by China for all 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China from May 1st, we are pleased to note an outstanding increase of South African quality products exports to China.
In 2025, China’s direct investment stock in South Africa exceeded $11.7 billion. Nearly 300 Chinese enterprises have invested and operated in South Africa, continuously expanding win-win cooperation in areas including infrastructure, automobile manufacturing, mineral processing, new energy and digital economy.
There is no doubt that cooperation in financial and banking sector between the two sides is growing from strength to strength, playing a vital role in supporting real economy of both countries and promoting bilateral trade and investment through a variety of quality and innovative services.
China and South Africa are committed to further aligning each other’s developmental plans and needs and achieving joint modernization.
I hope the business community of all sectors from both sides will take full advantage of the vast opportunities and promising prospects China-South Africa relations herald， and increase mutual engagement and synergies with more outcomes, so as to inject new impetus into the joint modernization drive of both countries and their relations.
Both governments will work together to create an fair, favorable and enabling business environment.
Thank you！