PROGRAMME OF VICE PRESIDENT OF CHINA

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs

OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA BY THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA, MR HU JINTAO: 31 JANUARY - 4 FEBRUARY 1999

Media representatives interested in covering the following events should please submit by fax (FAX NO: (012) 351 0260) full names, contact numbers (mobile numbers if possible) and full particulars about the media organisations they represent to the Department of Foreign Affairs by Friday, 29 January 1999, no later than 12:00:

1. Arrival at Cape Town International Airport
2. Meeting with Speaker at Cape Grace hotel
3. Meeting with Deputy President Mbeki at Tuynhuys
4. Official Dinner on 2 February hosted by Deputy President Mbeki (Pool arrangement)

Media will be required to present their press cards in order to gain access to the various venues. Media are kindly requested to arrive at venues at least 30 minutes before, unless otherwise indicated.

PROGRAMME:

Sunday, 31 January 1999
1820 Arrival: Cape Town International airport

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Media to assemble in VIP room at the airport by 17:25 for bus to tarmac 1900 Arrival at Cape Grace Hotel

1945 Meeting with Speaker of the National Assembly, Mrs F Ginwala at Cape Grace Hotel

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY (hotel lobby, after meeting)
Monday, 1 February 1999
1100 Official opening of the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Cape Town

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Contact: Mr Pan Qi
cell: 083 447 6639

Tuesday, 2 February 1999
1030 Bilateral meeting with Deputy President Mbeki and signing ceremony
Venue: Cape Grace hotel

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
1930 Official dinner in honour of Vice President Hu Jintao hosted by Deputy President Thabo Mbeki Venue: Table Bay hotel

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY - POOL ARRANGEMENT
Wednesday, 3 February 1999
1030 Arrival at Sandton Hilton hotel
1045 Meeting with the Premier of Gauteng Province, Adv SM Motshekga at Sandton Hilton hotel AND Official opening of the Chinese Consulate-General

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Contact: Ms Ma Deyun
cell: 082 858 0033

1400 Visit to the Hector Peterson Memorial, Soweto

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Contact: Ms Ma Deyun cell: 082 858 0033

1930 Dinner in honour of Vice President Hu Jintao hosted by the Africa-Asia society. Vice President Hu Jintao to deliver an address.

MEDIA OPPORTUNITY
Contact: Mr Martin Davis (Director)
tel: 011 - 339 8127
cell: 083 459 8880

Enquiries: Adri Cronje 082 889 0071

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
PRETORIA
28 JANUARY 1999