Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa jointly met the press after their talks on Tuesday.

China-South Africa ties have achieved leapfrog development over the past 25 years with strategic mutual trust reaching a new height, Xi noted.

Xi said the two countries will work to deepen bilateral cooperation in electric power and new energy, as well as in scientific and technological innovation.

China is ready to import more quality products from South Africa and will continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in South Africa, he said, adding that both sides agreed to consolidate cooperation in areas of advantage and foster new growth points.

China and South Africa should strengthen strategic coordination, practice genuine multilateralism and work to increase the representation and voice of the Global South countries in global governance, he said.

He called for adherence to people-centered cooperation in order to make the results more beneficial for the two peoples, saying that China supports the efforts of the South African government to strengthen vocational education and promote youth employment. 

China firmly supports African integration, the accession of the African Union to the G20, and supports South Africa in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, he added.

Ramaphosa said the South African people sincerely thank the Chinese government and people for their invaluable support in fighting against apartheid and the cause of national development in South Africa, as well as for the large amount of medical supplies provided to South Africa in the fight against COVID-19.

He reaffirmed that both sides will continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.

Both sides also agreed to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the areas of infrastructure, tourism, education and the digital economy, and strengthen international cooperation on major international and regional issues.