On September 5, 2002, South African President Thabo Mbeki held talks with visiting Premier Zhu Rongji. The two sides had an in-depth and friendly exchange of opinions on bilateral relations and African situation.

Zhu first passed on President Jing Zemin's cordial regards to President Mbeki. Zhu said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries less than 5 years ago, the bilateral relationship has developed very rapidly and comprehensively. He gave the frequent high-level exchanges and mutual visits in various forms, steady expansion of bilateral trade and enhanced exchanges in various fields including economy and trade, energy, science, culture and education as supporting examples, and he expressed his satisfaction with all these facts. Zhu also said that President Jiang Zemin and Mbeki have exchanged visits in the past two years, during which the two leaders signed the Pretoria Declaration on the Partnership between China and South Africa and officially launched a bi-national commission between the two countries. The two-way trade volume amounted to 2.22billion US dollars last year. In the first half of this year, Zhu said, bilateral trade rose by 10 percent over the same period of last year, reaching 1.137 billion dollars. Bilateral relations displayed good momentum.

He appreciated the long-term care of and the efforts by Mbeki to further the bilateral relations, saying that he thanked the South African government for its adherence to the One China policy. Both being important developing countries in Asia and Africa, China and South Africa understand and trust each other on major international and regional issues, and have strengthened coordination and cooperation. China is ready to join hands with South Africa to promote the continuous development of our partnership in the new century, featuring long-term stability, sincerity and friendship, mutual benefit and reciprocity, and comprehensive cooperation.

Zhu congratulated South Africa on its successful hosting of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). South Africa not long ago also successfully hosted the first summit of the African Union (AU). Zhu warmly congratulated Mbeki again on his accession to the AU's first chairman. China has always backed the efforts by African countries to pursue regional integration and self-reliance. We are ready to work hard with the AU and the vast African countries to make contribution to the establishment of a new partnership of long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit. On the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) advocated by Mbeki and other African leaders, Zhu believed it is amagnificent blueprint for Africa's renaissance. We have noticed the recent AU summit adopted a resolution, which set NEPAD as a major economic and social development plan of the AU and will be implemented under the framework of the pan-African body. Zhu also wish the plan a success.

For his part, Mbeki thanked Zhu and his delegation for the attendance of the WSSD, saying that China's participation is an active contribution to the success of the summit. He said South Africa and China have enjoyed good cooperation in various fields, adding that the establishment of the bi-national commission will help the two countries achieve effective coordination and cooperation. South Africa attaches great importance to the relations with China and will advance the comprehensive partnership of cooperation to a new level.