Visiting President Hu Jintao and his South African counterpart
Thabo Mbeki held talks in Pretoria on Tuesday on closer bilateral
ties.
They were expected to discuss important international and
regional issues during their talks.
In a written statement issued upon his arrival earlier in the
day, President Hu said that he will have in-depth exchanges of
views with Mbeki and other South African leaders on bilateral
relations and international and regional issues of mutual
interest."
"I am visiting South Africa to build on our past success to
further deepen our cooperation and grow our bilateral relations in
all areas," he said.
Hu said his visit will contribute to "further advancing the
China-South Africa strategic partnership."
Before their talks, President Hu was extended a red-carpet
welcome by Mbeki.
The two leaders will witness the signing of cooperation deals
between the two countries and meet the press following their talks,
according to the schedule.
On Wednesday, President Hu will deliver a speech at the
University of Pretoria.
China and South Africa established diplomatic ties in January
1998. Since then, relations between the two countries have
developed rapidly.
The two countries have established strategic partnership and
cooperated fruitfully in politics, trade, economy, science,
technology, culture, education, tourism and human resources.
In the first 11 months of 2006, bilateral trade volume reached
US$8.83 billion, an increase of 34.5 percent compared with the same
period of 2005.
South Africa is the sixth leg of Hu's eight-nation African tour,
which has taken him to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia and
Namibia. He will also visit Mozambique and the Seychelles.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2007)
