A senior South African lawmaker on Saturday met with visiting China Media Group (CMG) President Shen Haixiong and hailed a cooperation agreement between CMG and multimedia services provider the MultiChoice Group in Cape Town. 

Solomon Lechasa Tsenoli, deputy speaker of South Africa's National Assembly, said his country and China, who are close as "brothers," are bound to reap the benefits of more extensive cooperation, driving the international order toward more justice and fairness.

CMG President Shen Haixiong said the scale and depth of cooperation between China and South Africa under the guidance of the presidents of both countries has been unprecedented.  

Shen also noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries and the 10th anniversary of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. CMG wishes to strengthen cooperation with South Africa's National Assembly and contribute to building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future, he added.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the 15th BRICS Summit and pay a state visit to South Africa, an opportunity Shen said CMG and the MultiChoice Group should seize to deepen cooperation in fields such as news production and new media.

The agreement authorizes the MultiChoice Group to broadcast CCTV's Chinese international channel (CCTV-4), CGTN's English channel and CGTN's French channel in Africa, covering over 50 African countries. The MultiChoice Group is the largest pay-TV operator in Africa and possesses the biggest and most influential live satellite TV platform on the continent. It broadcasts over 100 well-known international TV channels, including CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera.

Nomsa Philiso, CEO of General Entertainment at the MultiChoice Group, said her company highly appreciates the longstanding and friendly cooperative relationship with CMG. 

The outstanding film and television programs produced by CMG have been warmly received and greatly appreciated in Africa, allowing African audiences to truly experience the tremendous changes in China's new era, she said.