(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-09 07:45

China and South Africa on Monday established a strategic dialogue mechanism to enhance diplomatic relations between the two countries.

South African President Thabo Mbeki meets Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (left) in his presidential residence on Monday. [Xinhua]

The announcement was made by visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at a press conference shortly after talks in Pretoria.

South Africa marked the first stop in Yang's four-nation tour to Africa, where China foreign ministry officials have traditionally started the year in a sign of the growing importance they place on the continent.

Yang will also visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Ethiopia.

South African President Thabo Mbeki met the Chinese foreign minister in his presidential residence on Monday.

Mbeki told Yang that relations between South Africa and China are important not only to South Africa, but also to Africa as a whole. South Africa cherishes traditional friendship with China and will firmly continue to pursue the one-China policy.

The strategic dialogue, which is aimed at high-level talks focusing on long-term strategic issues on political, economic and trade fronts, comes as the two countries celebrate 10 years of diplomatic ties.

"It would allow us, once a year, to discuss a whole range of political issues in depth, not just superficially, but in depth," said South African Foreign Minister Zuma.

She hosted Yang in Pretoria for the two-day official visit - his first trip to Africa since being appointed as foreign minister last year.

"This is indeed a relationship of great importance," Yang told a press conference.

"The two countries forged strategic partnership of equality, mutual benefit and common development (in the past decade). The two sides have also had fruitful cooperation in bilateral relations and international affairs," he added.

The Chinese minister expressed his hope that China and South Africa, which are both major players in international affairs, would further enhance their bilateral relations by increasing mutual visits, enhancing political trust and deepening mutual cooperation.

This year would see more high-level visits between the two countries. Both countries would host bilateral trade fairs and China plans a cultural show in South Africa later in the year.

China is now the largest trading partner of South Africa, the continent's economic powerhouse.

Yang's visit comes a year after Chinese President Hu Jintao visited South Africa.

Xinhua - Agencies