Visiting President Hu Jintao said in Pretoria on Wednesday that
strong China-South Africa relations of all-around cooperation serve
the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples.
Hu made the remarks as delivering a speech at the University of
Pretoria, a prestigious university which is to celebrate its 99th
birthday soon.
"It has been proved that strong China-South Africa relations of
all-around cooperation serve the fundamental interests of both
countries and peoples, promote unity and cooperation among
developing countries and contribute to global peace and
development," Hu said.
The Chinese government and people will work closely with the
South African side to enhance mutual political trust and practical
cooperation, as well as to steadily strengthen bilateral strategic
partnership to benefit both peoples.
Hu called South Africa, renowned as the "rainbow nation," an
important country in both Africa and the world.
Hu also said peace, development and cooperation are the defining
features of current times while China and Africa are important
forces for global peace and development.
He described the year 2006 as a milestone in the history of
China-Africa relations, citing the success of the Beijing Summit of
the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
At the summit, Hu added, the Chinese and African leaders
unanimously agreed to establish and develop a new type of
China-Africa strategic partnership featuring political equality and
mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural
exchange.
The Chinese president arrived in South Africa after concluding
visits to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia and Namibia. He will
also visit Mozambique and Seychelles.
(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2007)
