Xi welcomes Zuma as China’s friend
Print Edition
PRESIDENT Xi Jinping yesterday hailed South African President Jacob Zuma as China’s “good friend.”
“President Zuma is the Chinese people’s old friend and good friend,” Xi said as he welcomed Zuma on a state visit.
“South Africa is the comprehensive and strategic partner of China in Africa,” said Xi, who visited South Africa in March 2013 during his first foreign trip as head of state.
“We are good friends and good brothers that mutually benefit each other,” he said.
Zuma, accompanied by a delegation that includes ministers for the environment, international relations, trade and energy, transport and finance, thanked Xi for his “warm hospitality.”
“For me, this is a manifestation of the friendship and solidarity that exists between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa,” Zuma said.
China is South Africa’s single largest trading partner, while South Africa is China’s largest trading partner on the continent.
South Africa joined the BRICS bloc of developing economies with Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2011.
A number of agreements were signed yesterday, including a memorandum of understanding on nuclear energy cooperation between China National Nuclear Corporation and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation.
The two sides agreed a five-to-10-year strategic program on cooperation, as well as to improve bilateral cooperation in trade and investment between China’s Ministry of Commerce and South Africa’s department of trade and industry.
South Africa said last month it had signed a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with China, calling the deal a “preparatory phase for a possible utilization of Chinese nuclear technology.” The deal followed similar agreements with Russia and France.
South Africa, which has one nuclear plant, is plagued by electricity blackouts and is seeking to reduce its reliance on coal-fired power stations.
Electricity constraints have been blamed for limiting economic growth and productivity.
In talks earlier in the day, Premier Li Keqiang congratulated Zuma on his re-election in May as South Africa’s president.
“You have always attached high importance to South Africa’s relations with China and you have made unrelenting efforts to grow China-South Africa relations,” Li said.
Zuma responded: “We have always appreciated our interaction between China and South Africa. I must say that we feel very much at home.”
China will make South Africa a priority destination for overseas investment, and encourage and support the country’s industries, Li said, according to Xinhua news agency.
He said he hoped the two countries could strengthen marine economy cooperation through programs in ports, shipbuilding and fisheries, promote financial cooperation, including cross-border settlements in local currency and currency exchange, strengthen cooperation in nuclear power, promote the establishment of joint venture airlines, and use China-made airplanes in Africa’s regional aviation cooperation.
Li also vowed that China will continue to cooperate with African countries to fight the Ebola epidemic.
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