Chinese President Arrives in S. Africa

Chinese President Arrives in S. Africa

Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived Johannesburg on Monday for a state visit to South Africa which is aimed at promoting bilateral ties. This is the first visit by a Chinese head of state to thecountry since China and South Africa established diplomatic relations in early 1998.

Jiang made the visit at the invitation of South African President Thabo Mbeki. During his visit, Jiang is expected to exchange views with South African leaders on major international and regional issues of common concern and on ways to further bilateral ties.

Jiang and his wife Wang Yeping were greeted at the airport by South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister in the Office of the President Essop Pahad and other senior government officials.

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wang Xuexian and his wife as well as representatives from the Chinese Embassy in South Africa were also at the airport to greet president Jiang.

In a written statement distributed at the airport, Jiang said the Chinese people and the South African people enjoy an age-old traditional friendship.

Extending warm greetings and good wishes to the South African people on behalf of the Chinese people, Jiang said since the two countries established diplomatic relations in early 1998, their cooperation in all fields has been strengthened with broad prospects for further expansion.

"We are convinced that with our joint efforts, the friendly cooperation between China and South Africa will score more achievements and better benefit the two peoples," Jiang said.

"I am looking forward to witnessing during this visit the achievements made by the people of South Africa in their lofty cause of nation-building and to an in-depth exchange of views with South African leaders on developing our bilateral relations and on international and regional issues of mutual interest," he said.

He said he was confident that his visit to South Africa would further enhance mutual understanding and facilitate the constant and steady growth of China-South Africa friendship in the new century.

Jiang's entourage include Vice Premier Qian Qichen and his wife, State Councilor Wu Yi, Director of the General Office of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee Wang Gang, Minister in charge of the State Development Planning CommissionZeng Peiyan, Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Teng Wensheng.

They also include Vice Foreign Minister ji Peiding, Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Central Guards Bureau You Xigui, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Sun Guangxiang, Special Assistant Wang Huning and Director of President Jiang's Office Jia Ting'an.

South Africa is the last leg of Jiang's five-nation tour of Asia, Europe and Africa. He has visited Israel, Palestine, Turkey and Greece. During his stopover in Alexandria, Egypt, he met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

Sino-South African relations have been developing smoothly. The economic cooperation and trade between the two countries have been fruitful, with the volume of bilateral trade rising to 1.72billion U.S. dollars last year from 1.57 billion before 1998.

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