S. Africa appoints ambassadors to China, EU

South African President Thabo Mbeki has appointed new ambassadors to China and the European Union with hopes to consolidate mutual relations vital to attracting investment to boost the country's economy.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that Ndumiso Ntshinga and Anil Sooklal will represent South Africa in China and the European Union (EU) respectively, beginning April 1.

Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has expressed her confidence in the ability of the two ambassadors to "continue to build the necessary partnerships with a view to attracting foreign direct investments requisite to ensure a faster and shared economic growth in South Africa," said a statement issued by the ministry.

South Africa is currently China's largest trading partner in Africa and EU remains the leading trading partner of South Africa.

The task of the two ambassadors was to "consolidate and strengthen these strategic relations with the South Africa," said the statement.

Ntshinga, a former deputy chief of mission in the South African embassy in Washington, was currently head of the department's Europe and Americas branch.

Ntshinga will leave for Beijing at the end of this month to replace his predecessor Themba Kubheka, the ministry's spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa told Xinhua.

Sooklal, who will also serve as South Africa's Ambassador to Belgium and the Luxembourg, is the current head of the Middle East and Asia branch at the foreign ministry. He previously served in the South African Embassies in India and Geneva.

Source: Xinhua