2026 Pujiang Innovation Forum was held in Shanghai, and South Africa served as the guest country

China News Service, Shanghai, September 12 (Reporters Zheng Yingying and Sun Zifa) As the head of an ecological agricultural enterprise in South Africa, this is the first time for Sydwell Mcebo Sihlangu to come to China and participate in the 2026 Pujiang Innovation Forum. "China's technological level is far ahead. I have noticed that many equipment here have been automated. We look forward to cooperating with China in agriculture and other fields."

The 2026 Pujiang Innovation Forum, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Shanghai Municipal Government, was held in Shanghai from September 11 to 14. This year's forum is themed "Sharing Innovation and Shaping the Future: The Mission of the Global Science and Technology Community in the Context of a New Round of Scientific and Technological Revolution". The guest country is the Republic of South Africa and the guest province is Hunan Province.

China is South Africa's largest trading partner, and South Africa is China's largest trading partner in Africa. Data shows that the bilateral trade volume between China and South Africa will reach US$53.58 billion in 2025. From January to April 2026, the bilateral trade volume between China and South Africa reached US$19.5 billion.

Eric Rafahlema, Political and Economic Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in China, previously stated that 2026 coincides with the 28th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Africa and China. As the first African country to be invited to serve as the guest of honor, South Africa will rely on this important platform to showcase its national science and technology innovation system.

The South African Pavilion of the 2026 Pujiang Innovation Forum showcases more than ten projects, involving aerospace, hydrogen energy technology, ecological agriculture and other fields.

Richmore Kaseke, strategic cooperation manager of the National Energy Development Institute of South Africa, demonstrated South Africa’s hydrogen energy industry chain at the scene. He told a reporter from China News Service that South Africa is based on local research and development of hydrogen energy technology and hopes to use this forum to attract Chinese partners. "China is good at commercialization, but our current difficulty lies precisely in how to achieve large-scale application of technology. We hope to find partners in China."

Pujiang Innovation Forum was founded in 2008 and has developed into a high-level scientific and technological innovation brand event with extensive international influence. On the basis of previous sessions, the 2026 Pujiang Innovation Forum is committed to creating an open and inclusive international cooperation platform.

Wang Ruoran, a representative of Shanghai Rural Commercial Bank, had a pleasant conversation with the South African exhibitors at the scene. In an interview, he said that the Pujiang Innovation Forum is an open window that gives him the opportunity to go global. “This year, through this platform, we have more opportunities to contact companies in the BRICS countries and explore the possibility of providing them with financial services.”