Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership for the new era.
Xi held talks with Ramaphosa, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and a state visit.
Xi pointed out that the friendship between China and South Africa is rooted in mutual support for national liberation and development, and solidarity and cooperation in pursuit of international fairness and justice.
Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 30th anniversary of the birth of South Africa's democratic government, Xi said despite changes in an evolving global environment, China and South Africa remain committed to the mission to pursue modernization, the aspiration to promote China-Africa cooperation, and the desire to improve global governance.
Xi said strengthening solidarity and cooperation between China and South Africa is in line with the two peoples' common expectations and the historical process of the rising Global South, thus carries epoch-making and international significance.
Xi stressed that the new positioning of China-South Africa relations should focus on "three directions."
First, the political direction of common progress. The bilateral relations should be led forward with high-level strategic mutual trust.
Second, the direction of win-win cooperation. The two countries should improve the top-level design of bilateral cooperation, jointly build the Belt and Road with high quality, and promote cooperation in digital economy, artificial intelligence, new energy and other fields.
Third, the direction of everlasting people-to-people friendship. The two countries should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in human resources development, accelerate the projects of model vocational education schools and vocational training centers, and provide more scholarships and training opportunities for South African youth.
Xi pointed out that the FOCAC is a model of South-South cooperation and a banner leading international cooperation with Africa. At this summit, China and Africa will define a new characterization for China-Africa relations in the new era, and discuss concrete ways to jointly advance modernization, he added.
Xi said China will open up wider to African countries, adding that the country stands ready to work with South Africa and other African countries to create new momentum for cooperation and promote high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation. The express train of China-Africa cooperation will run faster and better, Xi said.
Xi stressed that in the world today, changes on a scale unseen in a century are unfolding at an accelerating pace, and human society is facing unprecedented challenges. The more complex the international situation becomes, the more the Global South countries must uphold independence, strengthen unity and cooperation, and jointly safeguard international fairness and justice.
China is ready to strengthen collaboration in international affairs and on multilateral occasions with South Africa, and will fully support South Africa in holding the rotating presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) next year.
Ramaphosa said President Xi paid his fourth state visit to South Africa last year, when they jointly celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between South Africa and China, and pushed bilateral relations into the "golden era".
Ramaphosa said South Africa and China enjoy a high degree of political mutual trust and profound traditional friendship, and share similar positions and goals on many issues. Based on equality, respect, mutual benefit and win-win results, bilateral economic and trade cooperation has become increasingly close.
He thanked China for its long-term valuable support for South Africa's economic and social development, and congratulated China on the successful convening of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.
It is believed that China's further deepening of reform comprehensively and promoting Chinese modernization will provide more opportunities for South Africa and other countries in the Global South, Ramaphosa said.
He said South Africa is willing to continue to be a trustworthy and reliable friend of China. Taking the opportunity of establishing an all-round strategic cooperative partnership for the new era with China, South Africa will expand and deepen practical cooperation with China in such areas as economy, trade and investment, infrastructure, new energy and poverty reduction, strengthen people-to-people exchanges and educational and cultural cooperation, push for more achievements in bilateral relations and help South Africa achieve modernization.
Ramaphosa said South Africa will continue to unswervingly uphold the one-China principle. Cooperation within the FOCAC framework has benefited African countries a lot, including South Africa. South Africa supports China in hosting the FOCAC Summit in Beijing, which will strengthen Africa-China solidarity and mutual support, and promote the common development of the Africa continent and the Global South.
South Africa supports the six common understandings issued by China and Brazil on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, thanks China for supporting South Africa in hosting the BRICS Summit last year, and is willing to continue close communication and coordination with China within multilateral frameworks such as BRICS and G20, he said.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on the application of the BeiDou navigation satellite system, the construction of human settlement, bilateral trade, market access for agricultural products and cultural heritage.
The two sides issued the joint statement between China and South Africa on establishing an all-round strategic cooperative partnership for the new era.
Prior to the talks, Xi held a welcome ceremony for Ramaphosa at the Great Hall of the People.
Xi, Ramaphosa announce elevation of China-South Africa ties
Xi, Ramaphosa announce elevation of China-South Africa ties
Xi, Ramaphosa announce elevation of China-South Africa ties
