Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, agreed on Tuesday to push for greater development of the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership in the new era.

During their talks in Pretoria, Xi said the key to the good relations between China and South Africa and their deep friendship lies in the fact that the two countries and the two parties share weal and woe on their respective development paths and have forged a profound friendship.

Noting that China is advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization and South Africa is exploring a modernization path that suits its national conditions, Xi said China stands ready to work with South Africa to inherit friendship and deepen cooperation and coordination to build a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future.

Xi arrived in South Africa on Monday for a state visit. He will also attend the 15th BRICS Summit and co-chair the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with Ramaphosa.

China and South Africa should be strategic partners with a high degree of mutual trust, Xi said, urging both sides to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation in legislative institutions, parties, militaries, and local governments, and continue to support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

Stressing that mutual benefit and win-win results are the foundation of China-South Africa cooperation, Xi called for advancing the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and implementing the 10 Years Strategic Program on Cooperation between China and South Africa to cultivate new growth points for cooperation.

China will increase imports of South African products and encourage more Chinese companies to invest in South Africa, Xi said, adding that China is willing to help South Africa with the implementation of rural poverty relief projects.

Noting that the people-to-people bond is a manifestation of China-South Africa friendship, Xi called for strengthening exchanges and cooperation in vocational education and the employment of young people in order to help South Africa nurture more talents that meet its economic and social development needs.

The Chinese president said China supports South Africa in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, vowing to work with South Africa and other developing countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative to practice true multilateralism.

China and Africa need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever, Xi said, expressing support for Africa in advancing industrialization and agricultural modernization.

The Chinese president said he looks forward to co-hosting the dialogue with Ramaphosa, and working with leaders of other participating African countries to draw a new blueprint for China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, aiming to promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Hailing China's support for South Africa in its national development process, Ramaphosa said China is South Africa's "sincere brother, friend and partner."

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 25 years ago, South Africa has firmly abided by the one-China principle, he said, adding that bilateral relations have flourished with close exchanges at all levels and fruitful cooperation in various fields.

China's investment and cooperation have strongly boosted the economic and social development of South Africa, and played a pivotal role in promoting the development and prosperity of African countries and countries in the Global South, he said.

South Africa is willing to work with China to deepen exchanges on governance experience, and expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and technology, Ramaphosa said.

South Africa and other countries in the Global South hope to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China to better respond to challenges and push for the establishment of a more equal, fair and reasonable international order, he noted.

Thanking China's support for the successful hosting of the BRICS summit, he said South Africa is willing to work with other BRICS countries to firmly safeguard multilateralism, promote the reform of global governance system to safeguard the common interests of developing countries. 

After the talks, Xi received the Order of South Africa from Ramaphosa, the highest decoration and the highest honor that South Africa awards to an important and friendly head of state.

The two heads of state witnessed the signing of a series of bilateral cooperation documents in areas such as BRI joint construction, new energy power, agricultural products, special economic zones and industrial parks, blue economy, technological innovation, and higher education.

A joint statement was issued by the two sides.