Hosting a banquet for African leaders in Johannesburg for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Zhu said he was confident that sustainable development can be achieved as long as African countries maintain their stability, develop according to their own national conditions and play an active role in international cooperation.

Zhu visited Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon before arriving in Johannesburg on Sunday for the summit. He is scheduled to have a two-day working visit in South Africa today and tomorrow.

Economic cooperation was a focus in Zhu's discussions with the leaders of Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon.

Bilateral trade between China and South Africa exceeded US$10 billion last year and also the year before.

At Tuesday's banquet, Zhu stressed the importance of developing countries in China's foreign policy.

He said that his nation will continue to work with them to strive towards a just and equitable new world order and democracy in international relations.

According to Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue, Gabonese President El Hadj Omar Bongo replied to Zhu's remarks by saying that developing countries must work together in the face of changed situations and the problems brought by globalization.

African countries treasure their cooperation with China, said Bongo.

The Chinese premier also held separate talks with Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica on Tuesday afternoon and with Thai Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol yesterday on the sidelines of the summit.

Zhu told Kostunica that China respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yugoslavia as well as its people's decisions concerning the direction of the country's development.

(China Daily September 5, 2002)