President Jiang Congratulates Mbeki's Inauguration 　　Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as South Africa's second ever black president here Wednesday, assuming the office of the 80-year-old Nelson Mandela, who is named as 　　"Africa's greatest son." 　　"I swear that I will be faithful to the Republic of South 　　Africa and will obey, observe, uphold and maintain the 　　Constitution and all other law of the republic," 56-year-old Mbeki 　　pledged before Constitutional Court President Arthur Chaskalson in 　　the amphitheater of the government headquarters in Pretoria. 　　"We trust that what we will do will not only better our own 　　condition as a people, but will also make a contribution, however 　　small, to the success of Africa's renaissance, toward the 　　identification of the century ahead of us as the African century," 　　Mbeki said later in his acceptance speech. 　　This shows that foreign policy would figure highly in Mbeki's 　　first five years in the presidential seat, analysts here said. 　　Moreover, the South African government policy will be driven by 　　economic considerations much more than under Mandela, the analysts 　　noted. 　　About 4,500 guests including Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, 　　Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Palestinian President Yasser Arafat 　　and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe witnessed the swearing-in. 　　Mbeki and Mandela sat side by side while some 20,000 tribal 　　praise singers, dancers and spectators paid tribute. 　　Some 30 foreign heads of state and government and thousands of 　　other dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony. 　　Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen attended the ceremony and submitted President Jiang Zemin's congratulation letter to Mbeki. HomeNews 1999-06-17 Page1 Full Story in Chinese