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Beijing

Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the country's most important political, cultural and economic centres. The city is located in northern China and serves as the seat of the national government, housing the central administration and key ministries. Beijing has a population of more than 21-million people in its metropolitan area, making it one of the most populous cities in the world. The city is a major hub for industry, finance, technology and education, with significant concentrations of State-owned enterprises and multinational corporations. Beijing's economy is diverse, encompassing sectors such as information technology, automotive manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and services. The city is also a critical node in China's transport infrastructure, served by Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport, as well as an extensive high-speed rail network. As the political heart of China, Beijing is home to the headquarters of major State bodies and plays a central role in policy formulation affecting industries including mining, metals and energy. The city has a history spanning more than 3 000 years and has served as the capital of China for much of the past eight centuries, shaping its enduring significance in national and international affairs.

Latest Articles in 60 Seconds

Mashatile visits Beijing to deepen South Africa–China trade and supply chain ties

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is scheduled for a working visit to China from June 20 to 26 to participate in the fourth China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing and lead economic diplomacy engagements. The mission, at the invitation of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade chairman Ren Hongbin, builds on the ninth South Africa–China Bi-National Commission held in Cape Town in March and aims to transform high-level political commitments into tangible economic opportunities, with a focus on industrial investment, trade facilitation and securing foreign direct investment.

Pretoria rebukes US ambassador over criticism of Beijing engagement

South Africa's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has issued a formal rebuke after US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III criticised Deputy President Mashatile's visit to Beijing on social media, calling the country's diplomatic engagements with China and Iran a "choice" rather than non-alignment. Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said South Africa pursues an independent foreign policy and reserves the right to cultivate bilateral relations across the global spectrum, noting the irony of Washington scrutinising Pretoria for engaging with Beijing when the US government maintains highly active, direct interactions with China.

Beijing Updates


Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola
Pretoria pushes back against US criticism on diplomatic engagements
25th June 2026 By: Thabi Shomolekae

South Africa has issued a formal rebuke following critical remarks made by US Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III regarding the African nation's foreign policy alignments. On Thursday, the country's... 


Steel production
Steel industry sounds alarm over slow progress on green steel
19th June 2026 By: Reuters

Delays to green steel projects are growing and government support is far short of what is needed, jeopardising the industry's drive to cut emissions, steel associations warned at an annual meeting... 


A bauxite mine in Guinea
Chalco agrees to build alumina plant in Guinea for $1bn
22nd May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Aluminum Corp of China, the country’s largest State-owned producer of the lightweight metal, has agreed to invest $1-billion in an alumina plant in Guinea to tap local bauxite resources. Chalco, as... 


Rare earths ore
China says rare earth controls lawful, will cooperate with US on 'reasonable' concerns
20th May 2026 By: Reuters

China will work with the US on "reasonable" concerns regarding its rare earth export controls, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday, in a statement that defended its restrictions as... 


Mixed rare earth sulphate
China agrees to address US concerns over rare earth shortages, says White House
18th May 2026 By: Reuters

China will address US concerns about shortages of certain specialty rare earths caused by Beijing's export controls, the White House said on May 17 in a factsheet outlining the major deals agreed... 


Mixed rare earth sulphate
China still drags its feet on rare earths sometimes, says Greer
15th May 2026 By: Reuters

Rare earth exports from China to the US are improving although Beijing is still slow to approve some shipments, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Thursday. China still drags its feet... 


BHP Jimblebar fines being transported to port
BHP's China Jimblebar ore stocks hit five-month low after ban removal
14th May 2026 By: Reuters

Portside inventories of BHP's Jimblebar fines, a type of iron ore, in China slid to a five-month low after Beijing ended a months long dispute with the global miner, but the drawdown has not... 


Molten copper being cast in Zambia
Acid shortage dominates copper economics concerns as fees tumble
6th May 2026 By: Reuters

As copper smelters, miners and traders gather in Hong Kong for LME Week Asia, sulphuric acid prices are shaping talks over how low copper concentrate processing fees can go. Soaring prices for the... 


UCT-led study reveals clues to the origin of the world’s largest diamonds
UCT-led study reveals clues to the origin of the world’s largest diamonds
5th May 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

The conditions under which the world's rarest and most valuable gem-quality diamonds – referred to as Cullinan-like, large, inclusion-poor, pure, irregular and resorbed (CLIPPIR) – form have... 


Jimblebar iron-ore
China's State iron-ore buyer allows purchases of previously banned BHP portside cargoes, sources say
28th April 2026 By: Reuters

China's State iron-ore buyer has lifted its ban on purchases of certain BHP ore products that had piled up at ports, four sources with knowledge of the matter said on April 28. BHP Group, the... 


BHP incoming CEO Brandon Craig
Iron-ore slides after incoming BHP chief sighted in Beijing
9th April 2026 By: Bloomberg

Iron-ore slid to its lowest in a month after a report that BHP Group’s incoming CEO had met with Chinese executives in Beijing this week, a possible sign that frosty relations between the mining... 


Incoming BHP CEO Brandon Craig
BHP's incoming CEO met with Chinalco boss in China this week
9th April 2026 By: Reuters

BHP Group's incoming CEO, Brandon Craig, met with the chairman of Chinalco in Beijing this week and discussed further cooperation, the Chinese aluminium giant said on Thursday. Craig's trip to... 


China widens BHP iron-ore ban amid contract talks, sources say
China widens BHP iron-ore ban amid contract talks, sources say
13th March 2026 By: Reuters

China has widened a ban on BHP iron-ore for the second time in two weeks, escalating a months-long contract dispute with the world's third-largest supplier of the key steelmaking ingredient. China... 


Iron-ore gains as China widens curbs on BHP cargoes
Iron-ore gains as China widens curbs on BHP cargoes
6th March 2026 By: Reuters

Iron-ore prices climbed on Friday as top consumer China's widening restrictions on buying some seaborne cargoes from major supplier BHP sparked supply concerns that outweighed falling demand. The... 


China unveils plan to decarbonise economy but stops short of quitting coal
China unveils plan to decarbonise economy but stops short of quitting coal
5th March 2026 By: Reuters

China on Thursday released a new economic decarbonisation plan that seeks to put its carbon intensity reduction programme back on track, mainly by relying on its booming renewable sector to limit... 


BILATERAL TRADE: South Africa and China have signed a framework trade and investment agreement aimed at providing duty-free access to the Chinese market for more South African products and facilitating Chinese investment into South Africa. The China-Africa Economic Partnership Agreement was signed in Beijing, China, on February 6 by South Africa’s Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau and his counterpart from the People’s Republic of China, Minister Wang Wentao.
BILATERAL TRADE
20th February 2026

South Africa and China have signed a framework trade and investment agreement aimed at providing duty-free access to the Chinese market to more South African products and facilitating Chinese... 


South Africa’s Minister Parks Tau and his counterpart from the People’s Republic of China, Minister Wang Wentao at the signing ceremony in Beijing, China.
South Africa and China sign trade and investment framework agreement
6th February 2026 By: Terence Creamer

South Africa and China have signed a framework trade and investment agreement aimed at providing duty-free access to the Chinese market to more South African products and facilitating Chinese... 


Chinese onslaught pushes ‘Big Six’ market share below 50%
23rd January 2026 By: Irma Venter

The top six-selling light-vehicle brands in South Africa in the year 2000 were Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, Opel, Mazda and Ford. From the turn of the century to 2010, these six brands held 60% to... 


India weighs Mongolian coking coal imports despite transport hurdles, source says
1st December 2025 By: Reuters

India is assessing the viability of importing coking coal from Mongolia despite transport bottlenecks, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said, as New Delhi seeks to diversify supplies of... 


US set to narrow its rare earth gap, others not so much
25th November 2025 By: Reuters

A multi-billion dollar pipeline of rare earth projects around the world is set to partly wean the US off Chinese rare earths, but falls far short of breaking Beijing's grip over the sector for most... 


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pqt: 0.087s - ct: 0.153s - 288pq - 2rq
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