The Provincial Government hosts China delegation to implement MoU
The solid long-established relationship between The People’s Republic of China, Henan province and Limpopo dates back to 2005. Since the establishment of mutual economic trade, tourism and agriculture, the two leaders of the provinces have untaken several trips to each ones’ country’s developing economic provinces.
The provincial government, led by MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Rodgers Monama, accompanied by Basic Education MEC Lerule-Mavhungu and Agriculture MEC Thabo Mokone hosted the high ranking Henan delegation led by Mr Zhang Yenyu Vice Chairman of CPPCC Henan committee in Polokwane for a two day visit, 6 and 7 December, in which bilateral implementation of the 2005 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was at the center of the visit.
Back in 2005, the two provinces made commitment to collaborate in the fields of mining and skills transfer. In 2008, Limpopo was invited to participate in the skills transfer seminar held in Henan which cemented Henan trade and investment opportunity in the Limpopo province.
In 2019 during Premier Mathabatha’s visit to Henan, Limpopo signed another MOU with Henan on Education cooperation with the Henan University of Technology, Bilateral China’s Foreign Aid which saw Henan province coming through with the donation of surgical masks at the peak of Covid 19 Pandemic.
The trade and investment relations has grown better since Limpopo held their investment conference where Henan has actively participated in all three of them and pledging significant amount to sustain the economic activities in the province.
During the 2023 investment conference, it was announced that the province of Limpopo has signed an agreement during the 2023 BRICKS Summit to import 90% of their avocados to China with the potential of exporting red meat in the near future.
It was during this visit that Mr Yenyu visited the University of Limpopo to present opportunities available for research students in Henan and the collaboration that the two institutions of higher learning can work on, to strengthen the curriculum in what is relevant to today’s economy.
Yenyu has extended an invite to tourism sector, health, agriculture and education to their 2024 seminars and training programmes considering Henan’s economy with a population of more than 100 million people and advanced technology which can be in cooperated in Limpopo to enhance the 4th industrial revolution implementation.
Addressing the provincial representatives, Deputy Director General for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Government of Henan Province Mr Li Bingbing expressed his gratitude for the solid ongoing relations between the two provinces and pledged to continue investing in the province to boost the local economy.
The Henan delegates were treated to the exploration of Makapan Valley which is one of the province’s rich heritage site situated in Mokopane.
By: Emmaculate Cindi