Chinese foreign minister meets Mandela

The Chinese Foreign Minister, Qian Qichen, who is on Beijing's first high-level visit to South Africa, has had talks with President Nelson Mandela.

Following the meeting, Mr Mandela said South Africa accepted Beijing's policy that there was only one China, and therefore it could no longer retain diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

An agreement establishing ties between Beijing and Pretoria is to be signed at an official ceremony tomorrow.

This will formally end South Africa's recognition of Taiwan.

South Africa had been the largest and most influential of the thirty countries recognising Taiwan.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service