Text of report by Xinhua news agency

The BBC's Jim Fish analyses the new agreement

Pretoria, 30th December: Chinese Vice-premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and South African Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo signed a joint communique in Pretoria today to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries as from 1st January 1998.

The full text of the joint communique reads as follows:

Joint Communique Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of South Africa on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations

Qian Qichen

1. The government of the People's Republic of China and the government of the Republic of South Africa, in conformity with the interests and desire of the two peoples, have decided upon mutual recognition and the establishment of diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level as from 1st January 1998.

2. The government of the People's Republic of China and the government of the Republic of South Africa agree to develop the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.

3. The government of the Republic of South Africa recognizes that there is but one China in the world, the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and recognizes China's position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

4. The government of the People's Republic of China and the government of the Republic of South Africa agree, on the basis of the principle of reciprocity and in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, to provide each other with all the necessary assistance for the establishment and performance of the functions of diplomatic missions in their respective capitals and to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible.

Qian Qichen (Signature) for the government of the People's Republic of China

Alfred Nzo (Signature) for the government of the Republic of South Africa Pretoria, 30th December 1997

Source: Xinhua news agency, Beijing, in English 0940 gmt 30 Dec 97

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
 

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