Chinese Vice-President: S. African Visit Fruitful 　　Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao Wednesday said his current official visit to South Africa has been fruitful and will be conducive to the smooth, healthy and steady growth of Sino-South African relations. 　　In an interview with five South African media, Hu, who will wind up his 13-day four-nation African tour Thursday, said that during his visit in South Africa, he had an in-depth exchange of views with President Nelson Mandela and Deputy President Thabo Mbeki on issues of bilateral ties and on other issues of shared interest. 　　"We have reached broad consensus on these issues and both sides have agreed to work together to build a constructive partnership oriented toward the 21st century," he added. 　　Hu said: "All in all, my current visit has reached the objective of making new friends, enhancing understanding, deepening friendship and expanding cooperation." 　　Also during Hu's visit here, both sides signed a series of documents on economic, trade and technological cooperation, the establishment of a joint commission on economy and trade, civil air transport, and a consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries. 　　*On Sino-South African economic relationship, Hu said that the establishment of Sino-South African relations has created favorable conditions and paved the way for bilateral economic and trade cooperation. 　　Hu pointed out that the policy of reform and opening-up to the outside world has become China's basic state policy. 　　He said that China is willing to have various kinds of cooperation with all countries in the world, including South Africa. 　　Both China and South Africa are developing countries with the two economies being highly supplementary, Hu said. There exists great potentiality in cooperation between the two countries, the Chinese leader noted. 　　Hu said that the Chinese government will continue to offer South Africa assistance within its ability and without any political pre-conditions. 　　Meanwhile, he said, China will encourage more of its domestic enterprises to invest in South Africa. 　　Hu said he is looking forward to seeing all the signed agreements between the two countries being implemented as soon as possible so as to push bilateral economic cooperation and trade to a "new high." 　　*While answering questions concerning the Asian financial crisis, the Chinese vice-president reiterated that China will not devalue its currency of the Renminbi this year. 　　He noted that the crisis has made some Asian countries' currencies devalue by a large margin and imposed tremendous pressure on the Chinese currency, greatly affecting China's export in particular. 　　However, Hu continued, China has taken timely steps to cope with the crisis and increase investment in the infrastructure sector, expand the domestic demand and help maintain the economic growth in a sustainable and steady way. 　　China has achieved a favorable balance of international payments, with a steady growth of its foreign exchange reserves now exceeding US$140 billion, he said. 　　"So, we have the objective condition to keep the value of our currency, " Hu noted. 　　If China volunteers to devalue its currency, he went on to say, this might offset, for a while, some negative effects of the Asian nations' devaluation of their currencies, but it will kick off a new round of devaluation in Asia, making the victim nations' situation worsen. 　　Hu stressed that this vicious circle will do no good to the financial and economic stability in Asia and the world as a whole. 　　"China, as a responsible country, is ready to sacrifice its interests and will never shift troubles onto its neighboring countries," he added. 　　*On United Nations issues, Hu said that China favors reforming the UN Security Council and that the reform must follow the principle of regional balance. 　　He said since the birth of the United nations more than 50 years ago, the biggest change in the world has been that many Asian and African countries have gained independence and joined the world organization. 　　"These countries are playing an increasingly important role in international affairs and any reform of the Security Council must reflect this change," Hu said. 　　"China favors that the possible expansion of the council should follow the principle of regional balance," he said, adding that a balance between developed countries and developing ones must be ensured. 　　He said China treasures the important role of African countries, including South Africa, in the UN affairs, and understands the aspirations of African nations to be more representatives in the council. 　　"We believe, on the basis of public, extensive and in-depth consultations, the wishes of African countries will come true," Hu said. 　　China believes that the active participation of African countries in the international affairs will be conducive to safeguarding the interests of developing countries and to promoting world peace and development, the Chinese leader said. WorldNews 1999-02-05 Page6 Full Story in Chinese