South Africa is China's largest African trading partner, representing more than 20 percent of business it conducts with the continent.

    China is South Africa's fifth largest bilateral trading partner, behind Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and Japan.

    Van der Wath said China would become a more important trade partner for South Africa over the next 10 years.

    "As China's economy increases its technology base, their products will become high-quality, low-cost substitutes for US and European imports," he said.

    "At the same time, as China's domestic market grows it will absorb an incrementally larger share of South Africa's exports compared to slow-growth, mature Western markets."

    Bilateral trade between South Africa and China reached 7.27 billion U.S. dollars last year and is growing at record rates, figures from the South Africa side show.

    South African businesses have invested more than 300 million dollars in China in more than 70 projects.

    These include SABMiller's beer franchise, Kumba's Qingdao port facility and its stake in Hongye zinc refinery, and Sasol's polymer investment near Shanghai.

    MIH, a multinational media company with most of its operations in South Africa, is involved in a Chinese Government initiative to connect all villages to a radio and TV transmission network. South African President Thabo Mbeki will visit MIH this morning during his state visit to China.

    SABMiller's involvement with the China Resource Enterprise is the toast of the beer-making business. The maker of Snow beer and owner of more than 40 breweries across the nation recently became the No. 1 brewer in China.

    Van der Wath considers himself a true Beijing resident. He bought a house in north Beijing, has a steady Chinese girlfriend and enjoys the company of his new Chinese friends.

    "My life in Beijing is fantastic. I love everything about it, the food and the people. The people make China great. They are reserved, intelligent and think before they speak," he said.

    "I travel back to South Africa every month, but actually enjoy the 12-hour travel time because I get a lot of work done on the plane. When I fly back to Beijing, it's great to be back home."

    (Source: China Daily)