The People's Republic of Chinaand the Republicof South Africaestablished diplomatic relations on January 1, 1998. Bilateral ties between the two countries have witnessed smooth development since then.

At the end of December 1997, Chinese Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen was invited to visit South Africa, and signed with South African Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo the Joint Communiqu¨¦ on the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In April 1998, South African Vice President Thabo Mbeki visited China. In September of the same year, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan was invited to South Africato attend the 12thNon-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit as an observer. In October, Speaker of South African National Assembly Frene Ginwala paid a visit to China.

In February 1999, Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao visited South Africa. South African President Nelson Mandela paid a state visit to Chinain May 1999. In June, the same year, Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen, as the Special Envoy of President Jiang Zemin, was invited to South Africato attend the inaugural ceremony of President Thabo Mbeki. In November 1999, Li Peng, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, paid an official visit to South Africa.

From April 24 to 27, 2000, Chinese President Jing Zemin, at the invitation of his South African counterpart Mbeki, paid a state visit to South Africa. During the visit, Jiang held formal talks with Mbeki. The two presidents conducted an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and international and regional issues and reached extensive consensuses. President Jiang said that China and South African are both developing countries with significant influences in their own regions, insisting that maintaining the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, and promoting the establishment of a just and reasonable new international order are both countries' common goal. Jiang also said that the continuous expansion and deepening of bilateral friendly cooperation between Chinaand South Africanot only conform to the two countries' long-term and fundamental interests, but also contribute to world peace and development. Mbeki expressed his thanks to the Chinese Government and people for their long-term support for South Africa's struggle against apartheid. He said South Africaattaches great importance to its cooperation with China. Mbeki added that the establishment of bilateral strategic relations between China and South Africa will not only benefit both countries' cooperation in some concrete fields, but also benefit bilateral cooperation on a series of issues, such as globalization, world trade, financial systems, debt, as well as how developing countries can play a role in the establishment of a new international order. During the visit, President jiang Zemin also held separate meetings with former South African President Mandela, Vice President Zuma, Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa Frene Ginwala, Governor of Gaudeng Mbhazima Shilowa, and Moeckel, Governor of the Western Cape. The two heads of state signed the Pretoria Declaration on the Partnership between the People's Republic of Chinaand the Republicof South Africa, and decided to set up a Bi-National Commission between the two countries. Besides, six other governmental agreements were signed by relevant department heads from both countries: the Agreement on Sea Transportation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa; the Cooperation Accord of Plant Quarantine between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of South Africa; the Agreement of Animal Quarantine and Sanitary Cooperation between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of South Africa; the Agreement of Cooperation in the Fields of Culture and Art between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of South Africa;the Agreement on Avoidance of Dual Taxation and Evasion of Tax between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of South Africa; the Agreement on Strengthening the Cooperation between the Police of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa.

On January 14, 2000, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan sent a condolence telegram to his South African counterpart Zuma for the death of South African former Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo.

From February 23 to 26, 2000, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya paid a stopover visit to South Africaand held consultation with his South African counterpart A. Pahad on issues of common concern, such as bilateral ties and human rights issue.

From February 24 to 29, 2000, Dai Bingguo, Head of the International Liaison Department of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), headed a delegation to South Africaat the invitation of the African National Congress of South Africa. During the visit, Dai met with Zuma, Vice Chairman of the congress and Vice President of South Africa, and held talks with Nguniyam, Director of the Chairman Office of the Congress, and Nzimande, General Secretary of South African Communist Party. Dai also has a lunch with Zuma and met with Owen, Minister of South African Trade and Industry and Macos, Vice President of the South African Reserve Bank.

From March 23 to 26, 2000, South African Foreign Minister Zuma paid an official visit to Chinaat the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Tan Jiaxuan. His visit was mainly aimed at making preparations for President Jiang Zemin's state visit to South Africa. President Jiang and Foreign Minister Tang met with Zuma. President Jiang Zemin sang highly of the fruits China-South African bilateral cooperation has achieved and its prospect, and said that Chinaattaches much importance to its friendly cooperative relations with South Africa, a big power and important developing country in Africa. Jiang expressed his wishes that both sides should continue working to push forward bilateral ties of friendly cooperation. Zuma said South Africahighly values its relations with Chinaand regards Chinaas an important strategic partner of South Africaand even Africaas a whole. South Africasees its cooperation with Chinaas an important part of South-South Cooperation. South Africasaid it feels satisfactory with its rapid and full-fledged cooperation with Chinaand hopes the two countries to further strengthen and expand cooperation. Tang Jiaxuan and Zuma also exchanged views on mutual high-level visits, international and regional situation, South-South cooperation, and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

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