South Africa and China have signed an extension to the memorandum of understanding in the labour field agreed to in 2002.
Briefing the media at Parliament after the signing ceremony on Monday, Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana said the agreement focused on human resources development, job creation strategies and cooperation in the International Labour Organisation.
Chinese Labour and Social Security Vice-Minister Zhang Xiajian said the memorandum signified enhanced cooperation between South Africa and China, which faced similar challenges in the labour and social security fields.
The two countries had much to share, despite their different cultures.
Among other things, China had managed to create ten million jobs a year over the past four years and had much experience to offer South Africa in this regard, he said.
Mdladlana agreed, saying South Africa was creating only about 500 000 jobs a year, not enough to meet the goal of halving unemployment by 2014.
The Chinese delegation arrived in Cape Town on Monday and will spend five days in the country.
Among other things, they will visit several skills training projects in the Western Cape and Gauteng. — Sapa