/ 21 August 2004

SA, China to work together on environment

South Africa and China should have a relationship on environmental issues that will last forever, visiting Chinese vice-minister Zeng Xiaodong said on Friday.

Xiaodong, Vice-Minister of the State Environmental Protection Administration of the Republic of China, is in South Africa on a five-day visit.

He was speaking on Friday at the launch of a poverty-relief project at Winterveldt, where he was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Rejoice Mabudafhasi.

Mabudafhasi was visiting the area as part of her women’s month programme, her spokesperson said.

Xiaodong is in the country to find out how South Africa deals with enforcement of environmental laws, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, and to identify potential future cooperation opportunities between the two countries.

Mabudafhasi announced that her department will be contributing R500 000 towards the development of the project, which will be divided among three schools running similar projects in the area through local women.

On Saturday, the Chinese and South African delegations will visit the Cradle of Humankind in Krugersdorp.

Both delegations are then scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism where they will be discussing issues of concern to both countries and reaching understanding on working together in the future, particularly on environmental issues.

Mabudafhasi said this is a perfect example of the world coming together to share ideas on how its people could lead a better life. — Sapa