From the moment we sat down at our Welcome to Wuhu dinner recently, our group of South Africans felt at home in China. In the middle of the table, alongside an array of Chinese dishes that included the delicious local equivalent of braai'd lamb chops, was a bottle of Stellenbosch's finest.
Wuhu is home to Chery, the global automotive giant that's only the fourth largest in China.
We were a motley lot in the room: apart from our local hosts and minders from Chery, there was a handful of senior staff from its Bryanston-based South African subsidiary, a clutch of motoring journalists and – to add colour and piquancy – the "Kings of Chery".
These included singers, actors, South Africa's top female DJ, market influencers and an animal welfare activist... all of whom serve as Chery brand ambassadors and champions back home.
We didn't know it yet but this bunch would repeatedly set the 3 000-delegate 2024 International User Summit alight with song, style and energy over the next few days.
Although there as a journalist, unlike my petrolhead peers I wasn't interested what vehicles were up for imminent release in Mzansi (the Tiggo 4 facelift which has just been launched here as the Tiggo Cross and the all-new Tiggo 9) but nevertheless had questions I wanted answered.
On a strategic level, I wanted to know if, why and how the piddly little market that is South Africa matters to a Fortune 500 company that manufactured its 15 000 000th vehicle (after starting production only in 1999) during our visit?
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Older hands add value
The next Rugby World Cup is three years away, in 2027, and much of the talk after the last event and now currently, has been about a number of the older guys in the Springbok squad and for how long they will continue playing for the world champions.
Stubbs happy to 'do his job'
Delivering one of the best international performances of his career, middle-order batter Tristan Stubbs (below) was relieved to carry his team over the line after guiding the Proteas to a three-wicket victory over India in the second T20 International in Gqeberha on Sunday night.
BOK WAKE-UP CALL
BE BETTER: WORLD CHAMPS MUST STEP UP THEIR GAME
Sinner cruises in finals opener
Jannik Sinner (above) got his bid for a first ATP Finals title underway with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Alex de Minaur on Sunday as former champion Daniil Medvedev lost his head during his defeat to Taylor Fritz.
Proteas women broaden the pool
NEW FACES: MULTI-FORMAT SERIES AGAINST ENGLAND
The 'incredibly tough men' will shine
India coach Gautam Gambhir yesterday backed \"incredibly tough men\" Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to prove their critics wrong and find form in Australia.
Dupont warns of All Black 'threat'
France superstar Antoine Dupont (right) said he was cautious of New Zealand's \"threat\" before the in-form All Blacks head to Paris on Saturday.
Gatland takes it on the chin
Warren Gatland (above) said he was unconcerned about his future as Wales coach after watching his team lose 24-19 to Fiji on Sunday in what was a record-equalling 10th successive Test defeat.
Poch prefers home-grown
Mauricio Pochettino (above) said he will not try to \"convince\" dual-nationality players to opt for the United States, insisting he wants to build a squad made of footballers desperate to represent the country.
England keen to click
ITOJE: DESPERATE TO MAKE THE FANS PROUD AGAINST THE WORLD CHAMPS