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China's CPPCC Chairman Arrives in S. Africa
Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), arrived in Cape Town on Thursday for a six-day official goodwill visit to South Africa.
In a written speech issued at the airport, Li said that his visit "will further promote the mutual understanding and
friendship between the peoples of China and South Africa, and will serve as an impetus to the development of the bilateral relations".
He said that the traditional friendship between China and South Africa has a long history and this friendship has "enjoyed rapid growth in all aspects, with the cooperation constantly expanding and strengthening in various sectors" since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries more than three years ago.
Li noted that the Pretoria Declaration on the Partnership between China and South Africa, signed by Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki during Jiang's visit to South Africa last year, "was a new spur to the further growth of the bilateral relations in the new century".
"I hope that this visit will give me a chance to see with my own eyes the great achievements scored by the new South Africa in its nation building endeavor, and to exchange views with leaders of South Africa on the bilateral relationship and regional and global issues of mutual interest," the chairman said.
Greeting Li at the airport were South African National Assembly speaker Frene Ginwala and National Council of Provinces chairwoman Naledi Pandor as well as local Chinese residents.
South Africa is the second leg of Li's four-nation tour, which will also take him to Morocco and Turkey. Before his arrival here he visited Mauritius.
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