On April 17, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange hosted a high-level delegation of 27 members from the Northern Cape Provincial Government of South Africa and the South African National Kimberley Diamond Incubation Center and Academy. Following a brief welcoming ceremony and tour, the two sides held a signing ceremony for the initial cooperation agreement of the China-South Africa Diamond Dialogue Mechanism in the exchange’s trading hall.
On the South African Northern Cape provincial government side, Mr. McCollen Jack, a standing committee member in charge of finance, economic development, and tourism, along with four other standing committee members in charge of various sectors, led the delegation. Members included department-level leaders responsible for key areas such as finance, economy, tourism, culture, transportation, poverty alleviation, and international exchanges. Mr. Van Der Ross, Chief Executive Officer of the South African National Diamond Exchange, and Mr. Steenkamp, Chairman of the Joint Board of Directors of the South African National Kimberley Diamond Incubation Center and Academy, led numerous industry experts to engage with the Diamond Exchange on specific cooperation matters related to the South African diamond industry.
At the signing ceremony, Deputy Director Shen Weihua of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and President Lin Qiang of the Diamond Exchange each delivered a welcoming speech on behalf of the Chinese side. Mr. McCollen Jack and Mr. Van Der Ross, representing the Northern Cape Provincial Government and the South African Diamond Exchange respectively, also delivered speeches. Subsequently, representatives from the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, the Diamond Management Office, the South African Diamond Exchange, and the Kimberley Diamond Incubation Center signed the "Initial Cooperation Agreement for the China-South Africa Diamond Dialogue Mechanism." Following the signing, the parties engaged in in-depth discussions and consultations on issues of mutual concern, laying a solid foundation for the implementation and advancement of the Diamond Dialogue Mechanism.