President Hu Jintao left Pretoria Thursday for Maputo, capital
of Mozambique, after a two-day state visit to South Africa.
During the visit, President Hu met South African President Thabo
Mbeki on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation between the two
countries.
The nations agreed to strengthen political mutual trust and
strategic consultation, enhance bilateral economic and trade
cooperation, and maintain communication and collaboration in the
UN, the World Trade Organization and other international
bodies.
The two countries signed a number of cooperation documents
during President Hu's visit.
On Wednesday, the Chinese leader delivered a speech in the
University of Pretoria, explaining China's stance on enhancing
China-Africa unity and cooperation in building a harmonious
world.
China and South Africa set up diplomatic ties in January 1998.
Since then, relations between the two countries have developed
rapidly.
The two countries have established a strategic partnership and
cooperated fruitfully in politics, trade and economy, science and
technology, culture, education, tourism and human resources.
Hu is on an eight-nation tour of Africa that has already brought
him to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, and
will also take him to Mozambique and Seychelles.
(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2007)
