South African President Thabo Mbeki and visiting Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong have pledged that the two countries would further enhance bilateral cooperation for mutual benefits and development of entire Africa.

During a meeting with Mbeki in Johannesburg on Monday, Zeng said cooperation between China and South Africa in various fields including international affairs has been smooth and fruitful since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1998.

Calling South Africa "a key African partner of China," Zeng said China is willing to forge a strategic partnership with South Africa to seek equal and mutual benefits and common development.

He stressed the importance of the two countries' collaboration in business and trade sectors, as well as coordinated stance on major international issues such as the reform of the United Nations and globalization.

"The main goal of my visit (to South Africa) is to substantially push the two countries' full-scale cooperation into a new stage," Zeng said.

As the strongest economy of Africa, South Africa now has become China's largest trading partner in the continent and bilateral trade has increased from US$1.47 billion in 1990 to US$3.7 billion last year.

Bilateral trade in the first quarter of this year amounted to US$1.67 billion, an increase of 66.6 percent from the same period in 2003.

Zeng said China appreciates South Africa's support in certain issues such as Taiwan issue and human rights issue.

Mbeki also expressed his satisfaction with great development of bilateral relations with China in the past six years, particularly after the establishment of the South Africa-People's Republic of China Bi-National Commission, a meeting that aims to strengthen ties and expand trade relations between the two countries.

He said both countries now need to better implement the consensus that has been reached, and should increase discussions and collaborations in international affairs in order to safeguard common interests of developing countries.

While praising South Africa's "positive and important contribution to an African renaissance," Zeng said the Chinese government will continue to do what it can to provide economic assistance to African countries.

Meanwhile, China will carry out reciprocal economic cooperation with African countries with aims to form a long-term, full-scale and stable partnership with Africa.

Zeng arrived in Cape Town on Sunday to start his first visit to South Africa. He met Baleka Mbete, speaker of the national assembly, and Joyce Kgoali, chairperson of the national council of provinces, as well as key figures from parliament on Sunday.

South Africa is the last leg of Zeng's four-African-nation trip. He arrived in Johannesburg after the official visit to the Republic of Benin. He also visited Tunisia and Togo.

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2004)