After the agreement to establish offices mutual interest was signed between Director Song and Mr Diederikson in late 1991, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Director General of Foreign Affairs in South Africa approved the appointment of LB Labuschagne, a senior Director in the Department and former Consul General (Beverly Hills-USA) to be the first South African Head of Mission in Beijing. Mr Les Labuschagne had the personal rank of Ambassador.
The South African Delegation, Mr and Mrs Labuschagne, Mr Basson and Ms Ahlers arrived in Beijing, Wednesday 18 March 1992.
The Chinese Head of Mission had arrived in South Africa at the end of 1991.
The Mission was named the South African Centre for Chinese Studies and Mr Labuschagne's (SHAO LEI SI) title was that of Director (ZHUREN). The conditions of establishment of the two offices reflected the importance that both countries attached to the new relationship. In fact they were de facto Embassy's, officials using diplomatic passports, having diplomatic privileges but not using diplomatic titles, the countries coats of arms, flags and being reflected on the diplomatic list.
The PRC officials were most courteous and the SA office's first priority was staff (readily provided by the DSB) housing and office space. As the two diplomatic areas were full accommodation was obtained in the now rapidly expanding apartments available and new office blocks. The office was finally established in the Lufthansa Centre and opening attended by Vice Foreign Minister Yang Fuchang.
At the time of establishment there were two other "informal" offices namely South Korea which liaised with the Trade Ministry and Israel which liaised with a Scientific Academy. South Africa liaised directly with the Foreign Ministry.
In due course the South African staff was issued with Diplomatic identity documents and diplomatic number plates. The Director was honoured with Ambassadors plates.
From an initial staff of three South African officials the staff at the time when the announcement was made to establish diplomatic relations (end of 1996) the South African staff had expanded to ten transferred officials and some thirteen Chinese staff.
The PRC government granted the Director full access to Chinese officialdom and Ministries and the first years were spent in building up knowledge and understanding of China and its remarkable economic development and introducing South Africa to the Chinese population and organizations and strengthening the cordial relations. Contact was made with Ministries, Provincial Governments, cities, Universities, the PLA and scientific organizations and Academies. Visas were issued and assistance was granted to delegations going to South Africa and visiting South African delegations.
Director Labuschagne traveled extensively visiting some 32 different Chinese cities and towns, some more than once, ranging among others from Shenyang and Dalian in the north, Xi'an, Yenan, Kashgar, Urumqi, Lhasa, Hainan, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Chengdu, Three Gorges, Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Kunming meeting officials and businesspersons.
The main focus was on trade and encouraging South Africans to get involved with the PRC both trade, culture and tourists. Seminars were addressed both in China and South Africa and visits both ways were encouraged and assisted. During this period total trade increased from USD 14 Million when Director Labuschagne arrived to reach USD four Billion, when he left. Nedbank, Absa, Iscor and SA Breweries established their physical presence during this period. The focus of Director Labuschagne's efforts was to lay the foundation for future developments and ultimate formal relations.
It was with great satisfaction that the announcement of South Africa's intention to assume diplomatic relations with effect from 1 January 1998 was announced prior to Director Labuschagne's departure at the end of December 1996.