This month marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between China and South Africa.
I first set foot on the territory of South Africa at the end of
1995 on my way to Harare as the Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe.
That short stopover filled me with anticipation for the future of
this beautiful and legendary nation.
In 2001, I was posted as the second Chinese ambassador to South
Africa. I worked there for six years, during which I personally
witnessed major events in the development of Sino-South African
relations and bilateral cooperation.
After apartheid ended in South Africa, there were some problems
in the relations between China and South Africa due to the Taiwan
question. However, once diplomatic relations were established
between the two countries on the New Year's Day 1998, bilateral
relations developed smoothly as political trust grew.
President Thabo Mbeki visited China in December 2001. Together
with then Chinese president Jiang Zemin, they initiated in Beijing
the China-South Africa Bi-national Commission, which has become an
effective platform for bilateral, pragmatic cooperation.
During Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's South Africa tour in June
2006, both sides said they would further their strategic
cooperation. South Africa adheres to the one-China policy and has
refused all requests for transit in South Africa by both Chen
Shui-bian and his "foreign minister", citing "technical
reasons".
The two countries have supported and worked with each other on
many major issues, such as South-North relations and the common
interests of developing countries.
President Thabo Mbeki attended the Beijing Summit of the
Sino-Africa Cooperation Forum in November 2006. After saying that
the best way to understand China and its rapid development is to
read Chinese books on the topic, he visited Wangfujing Xinhua Book
Store, despite his heavy schedule, where he bought books on China's
economic reform, social development, culture and education
South Africa is the largest economy in Africa. There is huge
potential for economic and trade cooperation between China and
South Africa. For many years, South Africa was China's top African
trading partner.
The volume of bilateral trade in 2000 hit $2 billion, more than
20 percent of the total trade volume between China and the entire
African continent. By the end of 2006, the volume of Sino-South
Africa trade had increased nearly five times to $9.8 billion.
Within the framework of the Sino-Africa Cooperation Forum, the
Chinese government has been training specialists from South Africa
to help it get rid of poverty and develop its rural area. For
example, academics from China Fujian Agricultural and Forestry
University have been helping farmers earn more by applying their
mushroom planting technology.
South Africa is a "rainbow country", with separate capitals for
legislation, administration and justice and 11 official languages.
And since China and South Africa were isolated from each other for
many years, the two countries lack mutual understanding. Some South
Africa media and sections of the public still hold prejudices
against China.
As Sino-South African cultural exchanges increase and the
Chinese economy grows, more and more South African people want to
know more about China. Meanwhile, more Chinese nationals and
tourists have been traveling to South Africa, which also
contributes to the exchanges and understanding between the people
of the two countries.
There were about 50,000 Chinese nationals in South Africa six
years ago. This number at least doubled in 2007. These people have
contributed to the development of South Africa. However, the
improper behavior of some of these Chinese people have stained the
image of China.
At the same time, the Chinese people also need to know more
about South Africa, in particular the public security situation.
The Chinese should view and treat this country with a more
forgiving attitude.
(China Daily January 23, 2008)
