CHINESE Vice President Hu Jintao opened his country’s first consulate general in South Africa at a short ceremony in Cape Town on Monday, the second day of a five-day visit to the country. Hu is to open a similar office in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Diplomatic ties between China and South Africa, which severed links with Taiwan in favour of Beijing, were only established in January last year but already bilateral trade stands at $1,8-billion. Hu, who arrived in Cape Town on Sunday at the head of a 70-member delegation, is to have talks on Tuesday with South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki, who will also host a banquet for him.