Chinese, South African FMs Hold Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 11, 2001

Chinese, South African FMs Hold Talks

Chinese and South African foreign ministers held talks Sunday to make final preparations for the upcoming visit of South African President Thabo Mbeki. The talks mainly focused on the launch of the commission that will be jointly inaugurated by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and South African President Mbeki. Both Sides Agreed that the Sino-South Africa Relations have been developed healthily the commission will help promote further constructive mechanism of dialogues and cooperation.

Bi-national Commission to Be Launched

The talks between the Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and his South African counterpart Nkosazana Zuma mainly focused on the launch of a bi-national commission between the two countries, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The commission will be jointly inaugurated by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and South African President Mbeki, who is scheduled to arrive in Beijing late Sunday afternoon for a four-day visit.

Sino-South Africa Relations Developed Healthily: Tang

Tang said bilateral relations between China and South Africa have been developed healthily since Jiang and Mbeki signed a declaration on the partnership between the two countries during his visit to South Africa in April last year.

He said the launch of the bi-national commission would help promote the constructive mechanism of dialogues and cooperation between the two countries on the basis of mutual trust and friendship.

Huge Potentials for Further Cooperation: Zuma

Zuma also spoke highly of the significance of the commission, saying it will help promote the good relations between South Africa and China.

Zuma said there still exist huge potentials for further cooperation between the two countries.

China and South Africa

Political Relations

The People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa established diplomatic relations on January 1, 1998. At the end of December 1997, the two countries signed the Joint Communiqu�� on the establishment of diplomatic relations that there have been more exchanges of high level visits between the two countries.

Trade, Economic Relation

South Africa is the largest trading partner of PR China in Africa. The trade volume between China and South Africa accounted for 19.4 % of the total trade volume between China and Africa. The bilateral trade volume in 2000 amounted to 2050 million US dollars, 19.1 % up on that of 1999. China's total investment in South Africa has reached some US$ 150 million.

Cultrual, Sci-tech Exchanges

The Governments of China and South Africa have signed agreements on Culture, Science and Technology Cooperation. A joint science and technology commission between China and South Africa has been set up.

NKOSAZANA CLARICE ZUMA
	Date of birth: 27 January 1949, KwaZulu	Academic Qualifications:
	Current position: Minister of Foreign Affairs in the South African Government (since 17 June 1999)	Diploma, Tropical Child Health, School of Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool (1986)
Career	Minister of Health in the South African Government (1994 - 16 June 1999)
	Research Scientist, Medical Research Council, Durban (1991 - 1994)
Awards:	Awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degree - University of Natal (1995)
	Awarded honorary Doctor of Laws degree - University of Bristol (1996)

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