South Africa Joins Namibia and Botswana in Beijing Declaration to Strengthen Africa-China Diamond Trade

South Africa has joined Namibia and Botswana in a new cooperation framework aimed at strengthening ties between Africa’s natural diamond-producing countries and China’s diamond market.The Beijing Declaration on Natural Diamonds and Sustainable Development was signed in Beijing on 15 September 2026, bringing together government representatives from South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, the Shanghai Diamond Exchange (SDE), and representatives of the Chinese and international diamond industries.

The declaration comes at a significant time for the global natural diamond industry, which is facing changing consumer demand and increasing competition from laboratory-grown diamonds. South Africa’s participation places the country alongside two of the continent’s major diamond-producing nations in efforts to deepen cooperation with one of the world’s important diamond consumer markets. South Africa was represented at the signing by Nosiphiwo Mzamo, Chief Executive Officer of the South African State Diamond Trader, one of the declaration’s four principal advocates. South Africa’s Ambassador to China, H.E Dipuo Bertha Letsatsi-Duba, also attended the event and witnessed the signing.

The signing was also witnessed by prominent international diamond industry representatives, including Al Cook, Chief Executive Officer of De Beers; Amber Pepper, Chief Executive Officer of the Natural Diamond Council; and Emma Wade-Smith, representing the World Diamond Council.

The Shanghai Diamond Exchange was also a lead partner in the initiative and played a central role in bringing together the African producing countries and China’s diamond and jewellery industry. The President of the Shanghai Diamond Exchange was among the key architects involved in developing the declaration, helping shape the framework for closer cooperation between African diamond producers and the Chinese market.

The South African government has an established interest in increasing beneficiation and ensuring that the country’s diamond industry contributes to domestic economic development. Parliament’s 2026 reporting on the State Diamond Trader identified beneficiation, economic sustainability and support for South African beneficiators among its strategic priorities.

The Beijing Declaration provides another platform through which South Africa can engage with the Chinese diamond market and other major players across the international diamond value chain. It seeks to strengthen connections between African diamond-producing countries, Chinese businesses and consumers, and the wider global natural diamond industry. The declaration seeks to improve cooperation across several areas, including market access, skills development, local value creation and economic diversification. It also calls for greater communication about the origins of natural diamonds and the economic and social contribution of the diamond industry in producing countries. The intention is to strengthen the connection between the diamond’s country of origin and consumers purchasing jewellery in China.

The Shanghai Diamond Exchange is expected to play an important role in connecting African producers with Chinese consumers and the wider Chinese jewellery industry. Representatives of major Chinese jewellery companies attended the signing ceremony, including Chow Tai Fook, Lao Feng Xiang, Chow Sang Sang and Lukfook Jewellery. For South Africa, the declaration creates a framework for deeper engagement with Chinese businesses and consumers while placing greater attention on the country’s position within the global diamond value chain. The focus on local value creation is particularly relevant to South Africa’s long-standing efforts to promote diamond beneficiation, including activities beyond the extraction of rough stones.

South Africa’s Ambassador to China, Dipuo Bertha Letsatsi-Duba, described the declaration as a cooperation framework that can support dialogue between African producers and China’s natural diamond industry, particularly around the contribution of diamonds to economic growth, employment and sustainable development. The agreement does not itself establish a specific trade volume or guarantee increased diamond sales. Rather, it establishes a framework for continued cooperation between producing countries, China and industry participants. The declaration is aligned with existing China-Africa cooperation mechanisms and references both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

For South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, the initiative represents a collective effort to strengthen the relationship between African diamond production and China’s consumer and jewellery markets, with the involvement of leading international industry organisations and companies. As the global diamond industry undergoes significant changes, the Beijing Declaration places the three African producers at the centre of discussions about the future of natural diamonds, beneficiation, employment and sustainable economic development.

The message from Beijing is clear, the future of Africa’s diamond industry will increasingly depend not only on what is mined, but also on how African countries create value from their diamonds and connect them to consumers in growing international markets.