Foreign and Military Affairs

China, South Africa sign energy deal

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-18 06:15

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R)?meets with South African President Jacob Zuma in?Cape Town, Nov 18, 2010. [Photo/Xinhua]

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - China and South Africa signed on Wednesday four cooperation documents during the fourth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).

Witnessed by visiting Chinese Vice president Xi Jinping and South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, officials from the two sides signed the agreements, involving cooperation in public welfare, energy, trade statistic analysis and banking supervision.

The fourth plenary session of the BNC, co-chaired by Xi and Motlanthe, is the first session held after South African President Jacob Zuma's first state visit to China this August.

Prior to the signing ceremony, Xi praised the meeting, saying that it provides the first opportunity for the two countries to implement the Beijing Declaration on the Establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was reached by the leaders of the two countries during Zuma's visit to China.

For his part, Motlanthe expressed his hope that South Africa's international partners including China could support the rainbow nation in its New Economic Growth Path which is aimed at creating more jobs and eradicating poverty.

At the invitation of Motlanthe, Xi arrived in Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon for a four-day visit to South Africa.

South Africa is the second leg of Xi's four-nation trip to Asia and Africa. He will also visit Angola and Botswana.