China welcomes and appreciates South Africa's decision to terminate its countervailing investigations into China-made stainless steel sinks, said a spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) in a statement published on Monday.

The International Trade Administration Commission of South Africa (ITAC) announced the decision on January 30.

Yao Jian, spokesman of the MOC, said the case was resolved after the ministry and South African investigators consulted and urged the industries to communicate with each other.

He said South Africa had been China's major trade partner in Africa. Economic and trade relations between China and South Africa had maintained robust development in recent years.

Last year, bilateral trade reached US$17.8 billion. China has established 154 enterprises in South Africa. China's direct investment in South Africa's non-financial sector has exceeded US$500 million.

Yao also said countries should beware of trade protectionism and avoid the abuse of trade remedy measures amid the world economic downturn. Problems in bilateral trade should be addressed through consultations and dialogue between the industries of the countries concerned.

South Africa launched anti-dumping and countervailing investigations on July 25, 2008 into imports of stainless steel sinks from China. It was the first countervailing probe of Chinese products among developing countries. On October 17, Franke, the plaintiff of the case, withdrew its application for countervailing investigations.

(Xinhua News Agency February 10, 2009)