Chinese premier sees rosy outlook for relations with South Africa
6/11/2006 16:24
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Beijing Monday he sees a rosy outlook
for his country's relations with South Africa and proposed the two cement
cooperation in trade, investment and personnel training.
Bilateral ties have
witnessed rapid development nine years after China forged diplomatic relations
with South Africa, Wen said during a meeting with visiting South African
President Thabo Mbeki Monday morning. The two sides have clinched strategic
partnership and inked the Program of Cooperation on Deepening the Strategic
Partnership.
The premier said he sees a "clear direction" and "concrete
actions" for further development of China-South Africa ties.
Both developing
countries at a critical stage of development, the two countries are not rivals
from the economic perspective, Wen said. "We'll achieve common development as
long as we complement each other with our respective advantages."
The premier
expressed hope that future cooperation would focus on trade, investment and
personnel training and bilateral trade and economic relations would be elevated
to a new high.
"It's the established policy of the Chinese government to
promote peace and development in Africa and enhance friendly cooperation with
the African countries," Wen said, adding that the Chinese side will further
deepen relations with the African Union, support the New Partnership for
Africa's Development, and call for more concerns and extra input from the
international society to care for the African countries' interest.
Mbeki said
his country and China enjoy friendship between their peoples and stable
relations between their governments. The two sides have maintained close
high-level contacts and carried out cooperation in an active and constructive
manner.
In particular, he said the agreement reached between the two sides
settling textile trade issues reflected a new level of their strategic
partnership.
South Africa wishes to share China's experience and strategy for
future development, while widening all-round cooperation, said the president,
adding that his country, just like China, is dedicated to economic and social
development and improvement of its people's lives.
He echoed Wen's proposal
to focus their cooperation on trade, investment and personnel training.
On
behalf of South Africa and other African countries, Mbeki congratulated China on
the success of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The
forum, the highest-profile gathering between Chinese and African leaders,
concluded Sunday after a declaration and an action plan for 2007-2009 had been
adopted.
Though a developing country itself, China has rendered sincere
support to Africa, he noted, adding that with China's help, Africa will be able
to better tackle the problems and challenges arising in its peace and
development process.
Mbeki arrived on Friday for a state visit at the
invitation of his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. Hu held talks with him earlier
on Monday.
China's top legislator Wu Bangguo also met Mbeki Monday
morning.
Mbeki was among 41 African heads of state or government and senior
officials from 48 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with
China at the landmark Beijing Summit.
South Africa established diplomatic
relations with China on January 1, 1998. The two countries established a
strategic partnership focusing on equality, mutual benefit and common
development in 2004.
Xinhua News
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