Question NW2777 to the President of the Republic
15 September 2015 - NW2777
Mokgalapa, Mr S to ask the President of the Republic
Whether (a) he and (b) any officials in his Office travelled to China in the 2014-15 financial year; if so, what was the (i) purpose of each specified visit and (ii)(aa) total cost and (bb) breakdown of such costs of each specified visit?
Reply:
(a) Yes, I travelled to China during the 2014/15 financial year
(b) Yes, officials from my office travelled with me to China
(i) The purpose was to embark on a State Visit on 04 and 05 December 2014, where the following issues were deliberated upon:
- to review the status of South Africa’s bilateral relations with China;
- to adopt the Five-to-Ten Year Strategic Programme for Cooperation;
- to commit China to South Africa’s industrialisation agenda development finance and request an increase in training slots;
- Discussing the high level Forum on Africa and China meeting that will take place in South Africa in December 2015;
- to encourage China to commit to assist in establishing the African Regional Centre on the New Development Bank; and
(ii) Conclude the 2014 year of South Africa in China.Total costs related to the logistics of the visit including accommodation and transport were R834, 868.64.