South African President Thabo Mbeki met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan in Pretoria, January 15, and the two parties had a friendly conversation.
Mbeki said he had a successful visit to China last December and, not long after that, Chinese FM visited South Africa, a prove of close, friendly ties between the two nations. Since the world situation is in constant changes and the Africa Continent is also facing many problems, South Africa hopes to maintain the stability, peace and development of the region together with China through frequent exchange of views and close cooperation.
Tang said President Mbeki, during his state visit to China at the end of last year, launched the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission together with Chinese President Jiang Zemin, which injected new energy for all-round cooperation between the two parties. Tang added that his visit was aimed to preside over the first session of the Commission with his South African counterpart Nkosazana Zuma to exchange views on regional and global issued of common concern, and broad consensus had been reached through their talks.
Mbeki and Tang also exchanged views on bilateral ties, regional, global issues, as well as how to combine the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and "New Partner Program for Africa Development".
(Xinhua News Agency January 16, 2002）
