Xi, Zuma vow to cement partnership on eve of summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, held talks on Dec 2 and discussed ways to further the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two emerging economies.

They agreed to lift bilateral ties to a new height by fully implementing the 5-10 Year Strategic Plan on Cooperation between the two nations and co-chairing the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Prior to the talks, Zuma hosted a 21-gun salute welcoming ceremony at the Union Buildings for Xi, who arrived in Pretoria just hours before for a state visit to South Africa. It is Xi's second visit to the "rainbow nation" as China's head of state.

"With joint efforts of both countries, the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership has seen good momentum with enhanced political trust and increasingly pragmatic cooperation in various fields, which has brought about tangible benefits to the two peoples," Xi said.

China and South Africa should strengthen their partnership, Xi noted, calling on the countries to be forward-looking strategic partners with strong mutual trust; development partners pursuing equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation; friendly partners who understand and learn from each other; and global partners who support and coordinate closely with each other.

China would facilitate South Africa's efforts to lead China-Africa cooperation in production capability and promote Africa's industrialization, encourage more financing for South Africa, and support the early launch of an African regional center for the New Development Bank for BRICS countries, Xi said.

Highlighting steady bilateral cooperation between the two countries, Zuma welcomed more investment from China and hoped the two sides could promote more fruitful cooperation in such areas as trade, technology, energy, marine products, commercial aviation and financing.

South Africa, Zuma said, encourages people-to-people exchanges, and will strengthen coordination and cooperation with China within multilateral mechanisms like the United Nations and the Group of 20 major economies, and on major global issues like climate change.

Zuma also expressed his support for China's hosting of the G20 summit, which will take place in the eastern city of Hangzhou on Sept 4 and 5 next year.

On Dec 4 and 5, Xi and Zuma are co-chairing the Johannesburg Summit of the FOCAC, with the theme of Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development.