On August 22, 2023, witnessed by the President of China and the President of South Africa, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) Zheng Shanjie and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Naledi Pandor, on behalf of the two governments, signed a Letter of Intent on agreement to deepen Belt and Road Cooperation between China and South Africa. On August 23, at the invitation of the Press Center of the Chinese Delegation, an official of the National Development and Reform Commission briefed the journalists on the China-South Africa Belt and Road cooperation.

The official noted that in December 2015, China and South Africa signed the MoU on Jointly Building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. So far, China has signed MOU on Belt and Road cooperation with 52 African countries. To implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state in November 2022, on strengthening alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan, relevant departments of the two governments worked actively to promote practical cooperation and achieved important progress.

The official said that going forward, the two sides will continue to implement the important common understandings reached by the two presidents, strengthen practical communications in accordance with the Letter of Intent, and work together for the early signing of a cooperation plan under the framework of strengthening alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and the South African Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. By doing so, we will deepen and substantiate Belt and Road cooperation between the two countries and deliver more benefits to the people of the two countries.