Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Tony Leon is leading a DA delegation to the People’s Republic of China, at the invitation of its government.
DA foreign affairs spokesperson and chief whip Douglas Gibson is part of the delegation, which left on Sunday. The delegation will be hosted by the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU).
In a statement, the official opposition said this was the first visit by the DA leadership to mainland China, a timeous event in view of its very significant economic positioning in the global economy.
The delegation will undertake a week-long visit to Beijing, Yichang City and Shanghai. The trip has a predominately economic focus.
Recently China has been much lauded for its high levels of economic growth and the delegation will attempt to understand how China has managed to create conditions conducive to sustainable economic growth and what lessons South Africa can learn from China’s experience.
On Wednesday, Leon will address the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.
The delegation will visit the Development Research Centre under the State Council and the Three Gorges project in the Hubei Province, Central China.
The Three Gorges project is a multi-purpose hydro-development project producing comprehensive benefits mainly in flood control, power generation, and navigation improvement. It is the largest conservancy project ever proposed in China or the world, said the DA.
The DA will also visit Shanghai where it will focus on China’s development strategy, with particular reference to the manner in which China has created special economic zones and encouraged foreign direct investment.
The delegation will meet with several other leading dignitaries and diplomats, including the Deputy Minister of the International Department, MA Wenpu, a central committee member. It will also be meeting with Ambassador ZHU Dacheng and WAN Guoquan, Deputy President and Vice President of the CAFIU respectively. – I-Net Bridge