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.

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.

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.

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.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2001)