China, S Africa boost ties

Mbeki with Jiang

By Willy Wo-Lap Lam
CNN Senior China Analyst

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Beijing has boosted political and economic ties with South Africa in the wake of talks between Presidents Jiang Zemin and Thabo Mbeki on Monday.

Official Chinese papers reported on Tuesday both leaders agreed to "bolster friendly and cooperative relations to full scale and in various sectors."

Jiang and Mbeki also inaugurated the first session of the China-South Africa Bi-national Commission, a vehicle for boosting trade and mutual investments.

On his first trip to China, Mbeki was scheduled to give a speech at the prestigious Tsinghua University on Tuesday and later visit the business hub of Shanghai.

Diplomatic analysts in the Chinese capital said Beijing was eager to stake its claim as a Third World leader through improving ties with Africa.

Last year, it held the first ever China-Africa forum in Beijing, which attracted representatives from dozens of African countries, including those that recognized Taiwan.

The analysts said particularly in view of the expansion of American power in the wake of the Afghan war, Beijing was anxious to raise its profile in the global arena.

The Xinhua news agency quoted Jiang as telling Mbeki that the two countries had "bolstered discussion on and cooperation in international affairs through frequent high-level political exchange."

Mbeki pledged to adhere to the one China principle and to support China's position on national reunification.

"Our political relations can only go from strength to strength," the South Africa leader told Jiang.

On economic and trade matters, it is understood Beijing's concern is to boost exports to Third World countries and to lessen its dependence on the U.S. market.

Mbeki, who is traveling with a large entourage of businessmen, indicated his country hoped to intensify economic links with China particularly in the areas of mining, telecommunications and manufacturing.

More than half of South Africa's exports to China, its 10th most important market, consist of iron ores and other minerals and Pretoria is anxious to break into other fields.