SA, China in military training deal
Zibonele Ntuli
22 July 2004
South Africa has signed a military agreement with China, with China donating electronic equipment to help in training SA military personnel.
The agreement was signed by Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota and the second vice chairman of China's Central Military Committee, General Guo Boxiong.
China also donated 100 computers and 100 laser printers to help train members of the South African National Defence Force.
Lekota said that China had "played a crucial role in ensuring that our struggle against apartheid succeeded and that we attained our freedom".
Relations between China and South Africa have grown stronger since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1998, with agreements signed since then covering cooperation on economic matters, internal security, trade, science and technology.
South Africa is China's largest African trading partner, with bilateral trade almost doubling from R9.3-billion in 1990 to
R18.3-billion in 2002.
Source: BuaNews
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