The information to this article applies to:
The Microsoft C/C++ Compiler included with: - Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Edition, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 4.0,
4.1, 5.0
SUMMARY
Use of "extern "C"" in source files that have a .C extension causes error C2059, and results in this error message:
error C2059:syntax error:'string'
CAUSE
In the C language, the string-literal "C" is not recognized. It is used in C++ to prevent name decoration.
RESOLUTION
Remove the string-literal "C" in extern declarations, or use the following in the function declaration:
#ifdef __cplusplus
extern "C"
#endif
http://blog.csdn.net/cxyol/archive/2006/10/20/1342650.aspx