BEIJING: President Xi Jinping and visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-around strategic cooperative partnership for the new era on Monday, charting new directions for bolstering diplomatic relations and pragmatic cooperation.
Xi hosted Ramaphosa at the Great Hall of the People in a welcoming ceremony marked by red-carpet treatment and a guard of honor, underscoring Beijing’s unwavering commitment to deepening ties with Africa’s most industrialized nation.
The two leaders jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on the application of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, two-way trade, market access for agricultural products and cultural heritage, further cementing the partnership.
A joint statement issued after the talks reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to collaborate on global issues and support each other’s development goals. “Despite the ever-changing international landscape, the missions of both our countries to pursue modernization and promote China-Africa cooperation remain unchanged,” Xi told the South African president, emphasizing the historic and global significance of stronger China-South Africa ties.
Ramaphosa is also among African leaders visiting China for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled from Wednesday to Friday.
“In the new era and on the new journey, strengthening unity and cooperation between China and South Africa aligns with the shared expectations of the peoples of both countries, resonates with the historical process of the Global South’s growth and expansion, and holds significant contemporary relevance and global impact,” Xi said.
The meeting came one year after Xi’s state visit to Pretoria, and South Africa is the country in Africa most visited by the Chinese president.
Xi outlined three key directions for the newly elevated partnership: pursuing mutual progress to advance political trust, deepening win-win economic cooperation, and fostering people-to-people exchanges. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
