China and South Africa issued a joint communiqué on Tuesday
establishing a framework for the two countries to strengthen
bilateral cooperation in terms of politics, economy and trade,
international affairs and personnel interaction.
The communiqué was released following talks in Pretoria between
Chinese President Hu Jintao and his South African counterpart,
Thabo Mbeki.
Hu had arrived in Pretoria earlier in the day from Namibia
starting his three-day state visit to South Africa.
The communiqué stated both China and South Africa's intentions
to develop relations under the guidance of the four principles
agreed upon by the top leaders of both countries.
The four principles are as follows: a broadening of political
mutual trust and strategic consultation; the bolstering of economic
cooperation and trade; an enhancement of coordination and
cooperation through diplomatic consultations; and the strengthening
of cultural and personnel interaction.
The mutually-agreed steps to be taken for the improving of
bilateral cooperation in the afore-mentioned priority areas
include:
-- Maintain high-level contacts and an exchange of views on
bilateral relations and global issues of mutual interest in a
wide-ranging context so as to build trust.
The two sides will "actively promote a positive image of the
warm relations that exists between China and Africa and work toward dispelling any
other negative reporting and perceptions in this regard."
?-- Foster the growth of bilateral trade in a balanced and
mutually beneficial trade environment. Strengthen consultation on
bilateral trade issues in a spirit of fairness and equality.
The Chinese side will employ the China-Africa Development Fund
to actively encourage Chinese companies to invest in South Africa.
South Africa will repay this favor by inviting Chinese companies to
take advantage of investment opportunities that its growing economy
and favorable environment offer.
China's support will extend to aiding South Africa with human
resources development, poverty eradication, job creation, rural
development and the creation of infrastructure.
-- Maintain communication and collaboration?in the United
Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international
organizations, and fully coordinate on major issues such as
development and poverty reduction, regional conflicts,
international dialogue and the formulation of multilateral trade
rules.
Both nations will promote a new strategic partnership between
China and Africa under the guidance of the Declaration of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation-Beijing Action Plan.
-- The two sides will agree on an appropriate program of
cultural, economic, social, sportive, diplomatic and academic
events during 2008 to celebrate 10 years of diplomatic relations
between South Africa and China.
In the communiqué, South Africa reaffirmed its commitment to the
one China policy, recognizing the government of the People's
Republic of China as "the sole legitimate government representing
the whole of China" and that Taiwan is "an inalienable part of the
Chinese territory."
South Africa is the sixth leg of Hu's eight-nation African tour,
which has already seen him visit Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia
and Namibia. He will also visit Mozambique and the Seychelles.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2007)
