Xi congratulates Ramaphosa on election as S. African president

World
Europe

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on his election as South African president.

In his congratulatory message, Xi called Ramaphosa an old friend of the Chinese people, who has made important contributions to the development of bilateral relations, and said he is willing to work with his new South African counterpart to lift the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership to higher levels.

Xi added that he hopes the two sides can support each other in hosting the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Johannesburg Summit of the emerging-market bloc of BRICS later this year.

Ramaphosa was sworn in as the nation’s fifth president on Thursday, after Jacob Zuma was forced to resign.

Cyril Ramaphosa delivers a speech after being elected South African president by the parliament in Cape Town, February 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

In his first presidential speech, Ramaphosa echoed the words of Nelson Mandela when he said he would lead South Africa as the "servant of the people."

"I do believe that when one is elected in this type of position, you basically become a servant of the people of South Africa. And I’ll seek to execute that task with humility, with faithfulness, and with dignity as well. That is what I will seek to do,” Ramaphosa said.

The new president is expected to give more details about how he plans to tackle corruption and boost economic growth on Friday, when he delivers his first state of the nation address.