Durban — “Fantastic and eye-opening.”
This is how the editor of the Daily News, Ayanda Mdluli, described his visit to China – one of South Africa’s key trading partners as part of the BRICS political and economic power deals.
Mdluli is among the roughly 100 journalists from African countries – including Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Lesotho – who are partaking in a four-month intensive training programme aimed at honing the skills of the participants through the China International Communications Press Centre in Beijing, China, led by President Xi Jinping.
For South Africa, this is a remarkable partnership in line with the power bloc dubbed BRICS, an acronym of countries who are part of the pact: Brazil, Russia, led by Vladimir Putin as president, India, China and South Africa.
The economic influence of the group has also attracted oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia.
Speaking about his experience, Mdluli said: “The experience here has been fantastic and eye-opening. This is a highly intensive and informative fellowship programme.
“I am looking forward to the lectures and the seminars, where we will learn about Chinese culture, the businesses and the economy.”
Mdluli said he had much to learn through the fellowship, which he would plough back into the Daily News – part of the Independent Media stable, owned by Dr Iqbal Survé.
“It is a very important experience for me to be part of this programme. There is a lot to learn. China is one of the biggest economies in the world. And it is one of South Africa’s biggest trading partners.”
Chuffed by the social and economic order of China, Mdluli said: “People here love their country, from the street sweeper upwards. Everybody here loves the country. This is the patriotism that we need in our country to make it prosper.”
He added: “For me to be here really means that I get a lot and learn a lot. And also give a lot back to the people of South Africa in terms of our bilateral relations and how we can provide insights in terms of how we can grow our economy based on what I have seen.
The director of the programme, Yu Lei, said: “This is a good opportunity for China to establish good relations with your countries (including South Africa). We will use this event to promote good relations.”
South Africa – which is facing a high rate of unemployment at 33% and rampant crime, joined the BRICS grouping in 2010 during former president Jacob Zuma’s tenure as president.
Relations between the country and China – one of the global economic powerhouses – span 25 years.
Last year, Xi Jinping was in the country as part of the 15th BRICS summit hosted in Johannesburg.
The two countries also have a 10-year strategic programme of co-operation with more than 200 Chinese-owned companies operating in South Africa.
With a sluggish economy plaguing the country, China remains a trusted partner of South Africa to aid the country and nurse the ailing economy back to health.
“South Africa is eager to deepen its collaboration within the frameworks of China’s common prosperity doctrine and strategy and our own National Development Plan and Economic Reconstruction and Development Plan. South Africa is also keen to harness the development potential of China’s Belt and Road Initiative announced by President Xi in 2013,” read a statement from the SA Presidency last year.
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