Xi Jinping calls for pushing China-South Africa ties to new level

China is willing to work with South Africa to continuously enrich the connotation of the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership and push bilateral relations to a new level, Chinese President Xi Jinping said during a meeting with South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile in Beijing on Monday.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, Xi said, adding that bilateral relations have entered a "golden era."

Recalling his state visit to South Africa in August, Xi said China and South Africa should be strategic partners of high-level mutual trust, development partners for common progress, friendly partners of deep mutual understanding and goodwill, as well as global partners that safeguard justice.

China supports South Africa in exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions, he said, pledging to further consolidate the foundation of political mutual trust with South Africa and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation.

China is willing to work with South Africa and other African countries to implement China's three measures to support Africa's industrialization, agricultural modernization, and talent training, he said, adding that China pledges to work with African countries to take the eight major steps to support high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and create several high-standard, people-friendly and sustainable cooperation projects to promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.

Xi called on both sides to continue to maintain close cooperation within the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) mechanism, strengthen unity and cooperation among developing countries, and push for the development of the global governance system in a direction that is beneficial to developing countries.

Mashatile said President Xi's visit to South Africa has further consolidated the traditional friendship between the two countries and injected strong impetus into the future development of bilateral relations.

The South African side hopes to strengthen the alignment of its development strategy with the Belt and Road Initiative and continue to deepen practical cooperation in various fields, he said.

Hailing China's contribution to safeguarding the interests of developing countries and promoting world peace, Mashatile said South Africa hopes to continue strengthening collaboration with China within multilateral mechanisms such as BRICS.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile in Beijing, China, November 6, 2023. /Xinhua)