On Friday, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed China's relationship with South Africa, stressing China is willing to be a trusted long-term partner of South Africa. 

Wang made the remarks when meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Durban. 

The Chinese foreign minister conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to President Ramaphosa, adding that the two leaders have provided strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations.  

"As China and South Africa are both major developing countries and representatives of emerging market countries, the development of Sino-South African relations is not only in the interests of the two countries, but also the strengthening of the power of the developing countries and the growth of the forces of world peace and stability."  

Wang said China treasures the high degree of mutual trust between the two countries and is willing to join South Africa in preparing the important agenda of the two countries and the two parties in the next stage.  

China would like to dovetail development strategies with South Africa under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, he added. 

China encourages its enterprises to expand investment in South Africa, and support South Africa for its reindustrialization, and China would like to expand the import of major agricultural and manufactured goods from South Africa, Wang said. 

President Ramaphosa for his part said South Africa attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership between two countries, appreciates China for its strong support to the African National Congress government, and cherishes the friendship and mutual trust between the two countries and the two parties.  

"South Africa is willing to continue to firmly support each other with China on issues involving core interests and major concerns, and strengthen the exchange of experience in governing the country with China." 

He also stressed that South Africa will integrate its own development with the joint construction of Belt and Road Initiative, and lift the South Africa-China relationship to a new level.  

On the same day, Wang also held talks with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor. 

Wang said that China and South Africa should strengthen strategic communication and cooperation in international and regional affairs, work together to safeguard multilateralism and democratization of international relations, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries. 

Pandor thanked China for its valuable support in the economic construction of South Africa and African countries. 

South Africa will continue to firmly support and actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, she noted and added South Africa and China take the same position on important international and regional issues.