In 2012, under the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, China promised to extend concessional loans to African countries to support their infrastructure and manufacturing development. Now, six years later, our reporter Tang Bo takes a look at how Chinese financial institutions have helped boost South Africa's economy.

A routine meeting between a Chinese loan lender and a local recipient. On one side is Li Tianshu and her team from China Construction Bank, on the other, Aberdare, a cable manufacturer in South Africa. Li and her team are here to check the company's financial performance after the loan was given last year.

LI TIANSHU, DEPUTY HEAD OF LIAISON BUSINESS CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK, JOHANNESBURG "The post-loan management aims to avoid bad loans caused by inappropriate use of the money, asset sales, equity changes, and so on. It's an important part of our financial services package."

Funding is always important, especially for companies like Aberdare. It has salaries to pay and raw materials to buy. Its cable-making outfit was purchased by a Chinese company in 2015. It is now South Africa's biggest cable manufacturer, with over 1,500 employees. Its production relies primarily on aluminum and copper. But prices are always fluctuating on the international market. So large sums of money are needed to ensure a steady material supply.

TANG BO JOHANNESBURG "The facility for Aberdare Cable is just one example of Chinese financial institutions helping the Chinese enterprises expand their overseas businesses. While other financial services from China have touched upon South Africa's key state department."

ESKOM, South Africa's top electricity generator, was on the brink of bankruptcy last year. But it was saved thanks to funding from some foreign financial institutions, including Bank of China.

Gavin Bouwer, a business development manager from Bank of China, is in charge of post-loan management. He's witnessed changes in ESKOM since they received the new funding.

Aberdare and ESKOM are two success stories of African manufacturing and infrastructure development being helped by Chinese companies.

ZHANG JINGUO, CEO CHINA CONSTRUCTION BANK, JOHANNESBURG "We have funded more than 10 billion US dollars for southern African countries over the past 18 years. And we will further offer over 750 million US dollars for South Africa's industrialization process."

CHENG JUN, CEO BANK OF CHINA, JOHANNESBURG "We are currently helping South Africa attract foreign businesses and investments to their economic zone."

Many international rating agencies downgraded South Africa's credit rating last year. That has led to an increase of investment costs. But due to China's high credit rankings, its financial institutions are able to raise money. Both banks believe they will continue to play a bigger role with the deepening of China-Africa cooperation. Tang Bo, CGTN, Johannesburg, South Africa.