South Africa and China Friday reached consensus on the contents of a public service cooperation agreement to be signed later this year.
South African Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi told reporters in Pretoria that the agreement will be formalized in a memorandum of understanding to be endorsed by the two countries in China before the end of the year.
The consensus was reached during talks between Fraser-Moleketi and a Chinese delegation led by Wang Zhongyu, Secretary General of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.
According to a statement issued after the talks, the discussions served to further cement the relationship between the two countries.
Earlier, the Chinese delegation was also received by Acting President Jacob Zuma and Minister in the Office of the Presidency, Essop Pahad.
Fraser-Moleketi revealed that the talks took place within the framework of the Pretoria Declaration, a document signed in April last year between the two countries.
This declaration provided, among others, for the establishment of a high-level bi-national commission between South Africa and China, and the strengthening of economic ties.
"Today's bilateral consultation dealt primarily with issues pertaining to human resource development in the public sector and public administration in general," Fraser-Moleketi said.
"The aim was to find ways in which mutually beneficial exchanges can take place in future on a broad range of matters," she noted.
Both countries faced the challenge of public sector transformation, including the restructuring of state assets, rationalization of the public service and modernization of procedures of government, the minister said.
The memorandum of understanding would provide for exchange visits between political and administrative teams to share expertise and experience, according to Fraser-Moleketi.
On his side, Wang Zhongyu told reporters that China and South Africa had been enjoying good relations in the past two years, and shared common ground in several respects.
"Both sides agree that it is important to enhance the quality of public service," he said.
When asked about the restructuring of state assets in China, Wang said the Chinese government's approach was to strengthen healthy enterprises and to restructure the unprofitable ones.
The most difficult part was dealing with people losing their jobs because of bankrupt enterprises, Wang said, adding that some people would enter a re-employment centre to receive professional training for two years, and would also be assisted to find other jobs.
A living standard insurance had been set up for those unable to find a new job, and this would provide them with a minimum income to help them make ends meet, Wang said.
(Xinhua 03/31/2001)
