Tariff Free Access to China's Markets

‍Chinese Consul General Pan Qingjiang with MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in the Free State, Ntombizanele Sifuba

‍The signing of the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Prosperity between South Africa and the People’s Republic of China on 6 February 2026 marks a historic milestone in bilateral economic relations. As part of the broader China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement (CAEPA), the framework paves the way for duty-free (tariff-free) access for South African exports to China’s super-massive market, with an Early Harvest Agreement expected by March 2026.

by Jayde Bhana

Celebrating New Year on the white-sand beaches of Rio de Janeiro is a bucket list item for many around the world. Tourists (local and international) make the pilgrimage to the famous Brazilian city to experience the massive party complete with live music on multiple stages and topped off with a colourful fireworks display. Backdropped by the iconic Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado mountain and engulfing the west of Guanabara Bay, Cidade Maravilhosa is worth visiting, and for South Africans, is easy to get to.

‍

The African Union Commission (AUC) delegation, led by Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lerato D. Mataboge, has concluded a series of high-level engagements at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026. The delegation secured critical political and institutional support for a new model of African infrastructure anchored in sovereignty, bankability, and domestic resource mobilization. The African Union Commission (AUC) delegation, led by Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lerato D. Mataboge, has concluded a series of high-level engagements at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026. The delegation secured critical political and institutional support for a new model of African infrastructure anchored in sovereignty, bankability, and domestic resource mobilization.

In 2026, as China and Africa mark the “Year of China–Africa People-to-People Exchange,” something special has been happening across Johannesburg—from the city’s bustling transport hubs to university campuses, from community cultural gatherings to the skyline itself.

This summer in the Southern Hemisphere, we brought more than a television show to South Africa. We brought a story.

When the Spring Festival Meets the City of Gold

At major public venues across Johannesburg—including busy transport hubs where commuters from every walk of life converge—the promotional film of the 2026 China Media Group (CMG) Spring Festival Gala has been playing on large screens. Many South Africans encountered the Chinese New Year not in a textbook, but in motion: vibrant red lanterns, galloping horses, joyful reunions, music and dance unfolding in cinematic scale.

‍In the world of diplomacy, government engagement and international business, hospitality plays a critical role in shaping relationships. From embassy receptions and official delegations to corporate launches and private executive gatherings, professional event management and premium catering are essential components of successful engagement.

Safwan Karkout has established himself as a trusted entrepreneur and hospitality leader in this specialised sector. As Director of Lime Tree Tea Garden and associated catering services, he has built a reputation for delivering professional, reliable and high-standard hospitality solutions for a wide range of clients, including corporate, private and official functions. 

Jaimal Anand, Political Counsellor at the Embassy with the South African community in Greece

‍The South African community (Team SA) in Greece, in close collaboration with the South African Embassy in Athens, proudly hosted a vibrant New Year gathering at the Rythmos Event Hall on 31 January 2026. 

The celebration brought together members of the community for an evening dedicated to unity, cultural pride, and shared purpose. The event opened with heartfelt wishes for a prosperous and fulfilling 2026.

Throughout the evening, guests reflected on the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of South Africans living in Greece. The gathering underscored the essence of Ubuntu, the belief in our shared humanity, and the importance of staying connected to one’s roots, traditions, and collective identity.

‍President Xi Jinping’s reply to veterans of Zimbabwe’s national liberation war is more than diplomatic courtesy, it is a reaffirmation of a relationship forged in struggle and now recalibrated for a new era of modernization and people-centred development. 

In their January 2026 letter, the veterans expressed heartfelt gratitude for China’s material and ideological support during the liberation struggle against the Rhodesian regime. They recalled how assistance in the 1960s and 1970s strengthened the freedom movements. That struggle culminated in independence on 18 April 1980 following the Lancaster House Agreement, a negotiated settlement that formally ended colonial minority rule but left unresolved structural economic distortions inherited from colonialism.

• Council of Arab Ambassadors host ANC Leadership
• Deputy Minister Alvin Botes on successful Working Visit to Nicaragua
• A Stunning Showcase at the 2026 Spring Festival Gala by China Media Group
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: BRICS could play key role in shaping Greater Eurasian Partnership
• UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to restitution of African cultural heritage
• Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Reset - Stability Through Participation, Sovereignty Through the People
• Rallying “Two Integrations, Five Cities and Four Leaps” to Jointly Build a “Happy Lotus City” 
• Dabiri-Erewa Condemns Recent Killing of a Nigerian in South Africa, Insists on Justice, Three Arrested
• SA’s accession to Afreximbank a turning point for continental economic integration
• SA Medical Research Council conducts groundbreaking HIV vaccine trial in humans
• Communities important to wetland conservation
• Zimbabwe advances strategy to become global medical tourism hub
• South Africa boosts agricultural trade with Russia in 2026
• Iran launches national AI assistant to accelerate scientific research
• Madagascar receives South Africa’s support to join BRICS as partner
  

www.thediplomaticsociety.co.za

Click here to view it online‍ ‍ ‍