A Bridge of Friendly Cooperation -- Interview with Ambassador of S. Africa to China

First of all, the ambassador extended his congratulations to the convocation of the NPC and CPPCC Sessions. He said this was the first time for him to attend the opening ceremony of the two sessions. The two sessions were grand occasions for the Chinese leaders, CPPCC members, NPC deputies and all the country to show what they had achieved over the year past. The report made by Premier Zhu Rongji on behalf of the Chinese Government stressed the improvement of the living standard of the Chinese people and especially for those living in rural areas. This is of great importance. He wished that the two meetings would make a greater contribution to the Chinese people.

There sees a very good relation between South Africa and China in political field and the economic and trade relation is also good too, continued the ambassador in a succinct way. Though the two countries are geographically wide apart yet it has witnessed a long history of the exchanges among the two peoples, and although there was only four years of diplomatic relations between the two countries there has seen a long relationship between the two parties in the past. For many years when the African National Congress was fighting against the racial segregation and for democracy it has won the great support from the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people both in moral and material fields. The African National Congress scored victory in the election in April, 1994 and May 10 that year saw Nelson Mandela became the first president of the South Africa, ushering in a new era for the republic ever since. After the new South Africa was set up, the New Year's Day of 1998 witnessed the diplomatic ties established between the two countries and the tie with Taiwan was severed on the same day. From then on the relationship between the South Africa and China entered into a historic era for development, opening up a wide vista for a comprehensive cooperation in the political, economic, diplomatic, scientific and technological and cultural fields. The ambassador reiterated that "there is only one China in the world. The government of the PRC is the sole legal government representing China and Taiwan is only a part of China." Recent years have seen the increase of exchanges between the two countries at the higher level, pointed out the ambassador. President Jiang Zemin paid a state visit to South Africa while Mandela, the former president and Thabo Mbeki, president in office have visited China for several times. The interview indicated that the ambassador felt quite satisfied with the political relations between the two countries.

Speaking of the economic and trade relation of the two countries there witnessed a quick development in this field, said the ambassador. Soon after the establishment of the diplomatic ties we saw the setup of Hisense (South Africa) Com., Ltd., the first joint venture between China and South Africa. The joint venture was mainly turning out TV sets. Before the establishment of the diplomatic ties China was ranked the 20th place in the import and export trade in South Africa and rose to the 10th place afterwards. The mining industry is the major source of foreign exchanges, accounting for about 50 percent of the total revenue of the country and gold and diamonds are the major exports of South Africa. China's import of gold increased from 200 tons to 600 tons with the import of diamond on the increase too, said the ambassador. So far the bilateral trade value comes to US$2 - 2.5 billion. According to statistics, China has invested some 60 projects in South Africa while South Africa has invested some 70 projects in China, of which the SAB (a South African beer company) has already set up 28 breweries here in China.

Mr. M. N. Kubheka, the Ambassador accorded greatly with China's entry into the WTO, holding that it is not only a victory for China itself, but also a victory for the entire developing world. He hoped that there would be more businessmen coming from South Africa to invest and put up factories in China and also more Chinese businessmen would do the same in South Africa. He said his job is to put up a bridge of friendly cooperation between the two countries.

To strengthen the mutual exchanges among the peoples of the two countries, the ambassador put forward a suggestion that the two countries can send more post-graduates to study, artistic troupes to perform and scholars to visit in each other's country and the door for tourists will be opened wider. He said the South Africa is a country worthwhile for tourists to take a look around, for there are quite some natural wonders and rich resources of flora and fauna in the country and, in particular, it has a polarity featuring primitive tribes in combination with sophisticated metropolises and developed tourist facilities. So a tour to the South Africa is in somewhat way a tour of the whole world. He warmly welcomes Chinese tourists to visit his country.

At the end of the interview the ambassador expressed to the reporter by saying "May I wish the People's Daily Overseas Edition and its readership a successful and prosperous future in the year of the horse."

(People's Daily March 21, 2002)