Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji arrived in Johannesburg Sunday evening
for a working visit to South Africa, where he is going to attend
the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
During his stay here, Zhu is going to take part in the WSSD meeting
of heads of state and government, slated from Monday to
Wednesday.
The Chinese premier will make a speech concerning China's blueprint
for sustainable development, according to the officials of the
Chinese embassy here.
Before he left for Johannesburg, Zhu held talks in Cape Town with
Frene Ginwala, speaker of the National Assembly of South
Africa.
Zhu cited Ginwala as an old friend of China, who has made
significant contribution to the advancement of Sino-South African
relations.
He
spoke highly of the bilateral relations and the exchanges between
South Africa's parliament and China's National People's Congress
and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Though China and South Africa set up diplomatic ties not long ago,
the two sides enjoyed closer contacts and cooperation in every
field.
The Chinese government highly values the development of Sino-South
African relations and expects the partnership between the two
countries will be advanced to a higher level in the new century,
according to the Chinese premier.
"The Earth Summit is one of the United Nations' most important
meetings in the area of development in the new century," Zhu
said.
"I
am going to make thorough exchanges of views with the leaders of
South Africa and the rest of the world on the important issues such
as the sustainable development," he said.
"China is ready to join hands with South Africa to make this summit
a success," he added.
South Africa is the fourth leg of Zhu's four-nation Africa tour,
which has already taken him to Algeria, Morocco and Cameroon.
(
September 2, 2002)