The China Machinery and Electronics Products Fair will be held in the Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg, from Nov. 7 to 11 in a bid to boost trade between China and South Africa, Chinese ambassador announced here Tuesday.

The fair, which is held to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries, will be the first of its kind held independently by China and South Africa.

More than 150 Chinese companies from 26 provinces and municipalities in China will exhibit their products, including automotives and components, construction, engineering and agricultural machinery, hardware and tools, electronic appliances and communication equipment.

Chinese Ambassador Liu Guijin said that South Africa is China's top trade partner in Africa, with a total bilateral trade of US$2.6 billion in 2002. Trade between the countries totaled US$2.4 billion, showing a dramatic increase of 49.7 percent during the first eight months of 2003.

He predicted that the total trade volume is expected to exceed US$3 billion by the end of this year.

"The stage has been set for a constantly growing long-term trade relationship between South Africa and China," he said, citing the first China-South Africa Joint Trade and Economic Commission of 2001 and the establishment later that year of a Bi-National Commission between the two countries as strategic indicators.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2003)