Chinese Premier Wen jiaobao's upcoming visit to the South Africa next week will surely boost China-South Africa cooperation in all areas and further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries, says Mr. Liu Guijin, the ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa.

 

Ambassador Liu meets journalists from Reuters, Itar-Tass and major South African media on Premier Wen's visit on June 14. The South African media who sent their reporters to the Chinese embassy this morning includes the Independent Media Group, Business Day, Beeld, City Press, Financial Mail, Engineering News and Summit TV.

 

Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China is going to pay official visits to seven African countries -- Egypt, Ghana, Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda -- from June 17 to 24. Premier Wen's visit to South Africa from June 21 to 22, the first ever official visit to South Africa by a Chinese Premier, is of great importance and significance and will surely push the strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, says the ambassador.

 

According to Liu, during his visit to South Africa, Premier Wen will exchange opinions with President Mbeki on deepening China-South Africa strategic cooperation comprehensively, meet with officials such as Vice President and parliamentary leaders of South Africa and Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Secretariat, attend the China-South Africa Business Cooperation Forum and make address on China-South Africa relations, China-Africa relations and China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. Both sides will sign a series of cooperation documents in such areas as politics, economy and trade, agriculture, health, science and technology, forestry, education and animal and plant quarantine.

 

 

China and South Africa are both big developing countries of major influence, Liu says. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties on January 1, 1998, bilateral relations have witnessed an all-round and rapid development. Mutual trust has been steadily enhanced along with frequent exchanges of high-level visits. In 2000, the two countries signed the Pretoria Declaration on partnership relations, followed by the establishment of the Bi-National Commission (BNC), under which five sectoral committees, respectively on diplomatic affairs, trade, education, science and technology, and defense, have been set up. In 2004, China and South Africa further defined their relations as "strategic partnership of equality, mutual benefit and common development".

 

China-South Africa trade and economic cooperation have grown rapidly. With around 20% share in the China-Africa trade, South Africa is China's largest trading partner in Africa. For South Africa, China is its fifth largest trading partner with almost even trade balance. Bilateral trade volume of US$ 7.27 billion was recorded in 2005, a fourfold increase over that in 2000. Two-way investment between China and South Africa has also kept good momentum. Accumulated investment from China in South Africa reached US$ 250 million at the end of year 2005, while South Africa's paid-in investment in China reached a US$ 350 million high level.

 

With concerted efforts from both sides, the strategic partnership between China and South Africa will surely deepen further and enjoy even broader prospects, ambassador Liu says with full confidence.