On September 14, 2023, Consul General Tang Zhongdong visited the Mayor of Johannesburg, Kabelo Gwamanda. The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics such as local government exchanges, economic, trade and investment cooperation, and the safety of the South African Chinese community.

Consul General Tang congratulated Gwamanda on his election as the mayor of Johannesburg in May and expressed that the Consulate General is willing to strengthen working ties and carry out practical cooperation with the new municipal government. Shanghai and Johannesburg have maintained long-term friendly exchanges, and the Consulate General is willing to continue to promote the deepening of friendly relations between the two sides. Most Chinese-funded companies in South Africa set their headquarters in Johannesburg. The Consulate General is willing to assist the Johannesburg government in connecting and cooperating with the Chinese-funded companies in the city. Given that many Chinese people reside in the Johannesburg, Consul General Tang hoped that the municipal government could place greater emphasis on the safety and protection of the local Chinese community.

Gwamanda thanked Consul General Tang for his visit and said that the municipal government attaches great importance to cooperation with China, maintains close communication with the China’smunicipal government authorities and the Chinese Embassy and Consulate in South Africa, and looks forward to elevating its relations with Shanghai to a new level. The municipal government wishes to attract more Chinese companies to invest and establish businesses in Johannesburg through providing better business conditions, and is also willing to create a safer working and living environment for the local Chinese community in Johannesburg.