On September 22, Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo Meets with visiting South African First Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad. Both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common interest and reached broad consensus.

Dai noted that China attaches great importance to developing friendly cooperative relations with South Africa, deems it a sincere friend and important strategic cooperative partner and would like to strengthen coordination and cooperation with South Africa in bilateral and international affairs.

Pahad indicated that China has witnessed rapid growth of its economy and is playing an important role in international affairs. The development of South Africa and Africa at large can't go without China's support and cooperation. South Africa will as always deepen the bilateral strategic partnership in an all-round manner.

On September 23, Qiao Zonghuai, a member of Chinese Foreign Ministry leadership, held talks with Pahad.