when we were in Cape Town, an unfamiliar city of a foreign nation on a faraway continent, we were able to wire into the local scene very quickly from standing start, because (i) the coconut was doing charity work with the local whites and blacks focused on the townships and together w/ local and asia donors, (ii) the local Team China folks were on board, (iii) Team HK folks were supportive, and (iv) local Chinese diaspora enthusiastic
Else we would have had a hard time because I did not have my international driver's license w/ me, Uber was locked down, and we lived on top of a hill w/ 33% grade
we were literally adopted by many and helped out big time, from transport to hospital visit to entertainment to meeting folks, and of course regular grocery shopping
win win cooperation
the kids learned that a smile went a long way, and a sense of humour helped
looks like re-up time before year-end
we shall return at some juncture once the danger of lockdown is no more, and I shall bring driver's license (I normally do, but as the trip was only for 30-days and Uber was to be plentiful, I got lazy and did not last-minute renew my int'l drivers license. mistake but thankfully did not matter.
belt & road going well.
bloomberg.com
South Africa, China to Revamp 10-Year Strategic Cooperation Plan
Monique Vanek
28 September 2020, 22:53 GMT+8
South Africa and China are working on a new 10-year strategic program for cooperation, as the current one nears its end.
The new plan will focus on collaboration in areas including higher education, skills transfer, health, the digital economy, science and technology, Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan said at an online briefing hosted by the Chinese Embassy on Monday.
“We hope to sign this before the end of the year,” he said.
South Africa has been China’s biggest trading partner in Africa for 10 years and China the largest recipient of South African goods and services for 11 years, Chen Xiaodong, China’s recently appointed ambassador to South Africa, said at the briefing. In 2019, total trade was $43.2 billion between the two nations.
An initial five- to 10-year strategic program was adopted at the end of 2014, during a visit by former South African President Jacob Zuma to China.
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