South Africa Moves to Diversify Its Trade Ties in Asia Beyond China

South Africa is expanding its trading ties in Asia by becoming the newest partner country in the Association for Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), marking the first time a sub-Saharan country joins the regional body. Morocco and Egypt are also ASEAN partners.

The move marks an important effort by Pretoria to diversify its trading ties in Asia beyond its current dependence on China. The six countries that comprise the ASEAN market together have a population of 600+ million and is now one of the world’s fastest-growing regions, in part because it hasn’t suffered as much from the COVID-19 pandemic as other places.

SUGGESTED READING:

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5 Trump’s Contradictory Iran Strategy Leaves U.S. Weaker After War’s End, Says Chinese Commentator
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

The Philippines New President Tells Xi He Wants Ties With China to “Shift to a Higher Gear”

Philippines President-elect Ferdinand Marcos said he plans to expand ties with China when he assumes office on June 30th. The incoming president told his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a phone call on Wednesday that ...

China’s New Ambassador to Rwanda A Man of Mystery?

Wang Xuekun, China’s new ambassador-designate has arrived in Rwanda. While most announcements of new Chinese diplomatic postings highlight the ambassador’s track record in the region, the Foreign Ministry only listed his birth date and: “He ...

Wang Yi Lands in the South Pacific With Big Ambitions to Expand Chinese Influence in the Region

Great Power politics arrived in the South Pacific on Wednesday night when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-member entourage landed in the Solomon Islands capital of Honiara. Wang is embarking on a 10-day, seven-nation ...

China Crows As India Bails on IPEF Trade Pillar

India’s prominence at the SCO summit comes at a delicate moment for the United States as India moves to limit its participation in the new U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). Indian officials said it will not ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP