From September 1 to 4, 2004, Special Representative of Chinese Foreign Minister and Director General of the Department of Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Luo Tianguang paid a 4-day working visit to South Africa. During the visit, Luo held in-depth consultations and discussions with officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and Police Service of South Africa on ensuring security of Chinese citizens in South Africa, demanding the country to take concrete and effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese citizens.

All the officials pledged to Luo that they attach importance to the security of Chinese citizens and will protect Chinese citizens in South Africa by law and dispose of related cases as quickly as possible to bring the criminals to justice. Both sides deemed it necessary to enhance police cooperation and consider the mutual stationing of police liaison officers as soon as possible to jointly fight criminal activities that jeopardize the personal and property safety of Chinese citizens.

Over the past period of time, there emerged many cases of Chinese citizens in South Africa being attacked and victimized, which not only compromised the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens and companies in South Africa but also interrupted the friendly exchanges between the two peoples. Chinese government attaches great importance to this matter and Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing dispatched Luo to South Africa as his special representative to discuss the specific measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in South Africa.

During the visit, Luo also held talks with Chinese-invested institutions and representatives of Chinese citizens in South Africa, conveying the Chinese government's care and regards for overseas Chinese and listened to their views and suggestions on consular affairs related to Chinese nationals. All the Chinese citizens in South Africa expressed thanks to the motherland for sending a representative to extend the regards to them and explore concrete measures aimed at protecting their legitimate rights and interests when such criminal cases took place so frequently.