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Parliament’s National Assembly (NA) Speaker Mr Max Sisulu yesterday held bilateral talks with the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of The People’s Republic Of China Mr Wu Bangguo.

Mr Sisulu’s delegation included Deputy NA Speaker Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Marius Fransman and Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Ms Elizabeth Thabethe.

Both parties expressed the view that the signing in August 2010 by President Zuma and President Hu Jintao of the Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership made implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2006 by our two Parliaments a priority.

Mr Wu noted that “South Africa is the only African country among the 15 foreign countries that have established a Regular Exchange Mechanism with China’s National People’s Congress.”

NA Deputy Speaker Nomaindia Mfeketo will visit China later this year to finalise areas of mutual co-operation and the implementation plan between the two legislatures on the Regular Exchange Mechanism.

Mr Sisulu and Mr Wu both stressed that the two Parliaments must ensure that the Declaration on the Establishment of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is implemented.

Mr Wu also addressed an assembly of Members of Parliament where he said that the friendship between China and South Africa had deepened and was based on equity, development and mutual trust. He expressed China’s support for South Africa’s successful hosting of the COP 17 on climate change in Durban in December and said that climate change was a common challenge to humanity and committed China to working tirelessly for a legally binding agreement, guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Both parliaments agreed to increase cooperation in areas of mutual interest and to increase exchanges between Parliamentary Committees. Mr Wu also spoke of China’s desire to encourage exchanges among academics and NGOs in future.

Mr Sisulu and Mr Wu agreed that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership made it necessary for the two countries to work together in the international arena to promote and coordinate common positions.

From Cape Town, the Chinese delegation will visit Gauteng, where, among others, they will meet South African businesspeople.