New China president makes SA first trip

2013-03-07 20:32

Chinese President Xi Jinping. (File: AP)

Johannesburg - When Xi Jinping takes over as China's president, his first visit will be to South Africa, the international relations department said on Thursday.

"That says a lot about the relationship between China and South Africa," spokesperson Clayson Monyela said.

"This will be his first visit to a foreign country after taking over."

Jinping's state visit will be on 26 March. The following day he is scheduled to attend a Brics summit in Durban.

Brics is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

- SAPA