Chinese Vice President Han Zheng paid a visit to South Africa from Wednesday to Friday, where he met President Cyril Ramaphosa, co-chaired the ninth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission with Deputy President Paul Mashatile, met National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, and attended a China-South Africa trade forum.
Han's three-day visit came at the invitation of Mashatile.
In his meeting with Ramaphosa in Cape Town on Wednesday, Han conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings and best wishes to the South African president.
Han noted that China attaches great importance to its relations with South Africa and stands ready to work with the country to further advance the China-South Africa all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era established by the two heads of state.
China and South Africa should continuously enhance political mutual trust and support each other on issues of their respective major concern, he said.
Han said China is willing to work with South Africa to finalize the early harvest arrangements under the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development as soon as possible, and promote practical cooperation in a coordinated manner.
China stands ready to work with South Africa to strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms, and jointly enhance the representation and voice of the Global South in international affairs, he said.
Ramaphosa asked Han to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to President Xi, adding that South Africa firmly adheres to the one-China policy.
He expressed appreciation to President Xi for announcing the full implementation of the zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries, saying that South Africa will make good use of the policies to expand exports to China and strengthen cooperation with the country in various fields.
While co-chairing the plenary session with Mashatile on Thursday, Han said that under the strategic guidance of President Xi and President Ramaphosa, the China-South Africa relations have entered a "golden era," elevated to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, and are moving towards the goal of building a high-level community with a shared future.
The two sides should consolidate the fine tradition of mutual support, leverage the cooperation opportunities brought by China's zero-tariff measures for 53 African countries, enhance the alignment in key areas such as infrastructure, resources and energy, expand cooperation in science and technology, strengthen the people-to-people bonds, and work together to make the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation benefit more African people, Han said.
Mashatile said South Africa is willing to make joint efforts with China to give full play to the guiding and coordinating role of the bi-national commission mechanism in the development of bilateral relations, implement the strategic cooperation plan between the two countries, and jointly promote modernization.
South Africa welcomes the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi, and is ready to work with China to safeguard multilateralism, according to the deputy president.
In his meeting with Didiza on Friday, Han said legislative bodies are important drivers of the development of bilateral relations, expressing the hope that the South African National Assembly will actively promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two sides, so that the friendship between the two countries can be passed down from generation to generation.
Didiza said South Africa will make good use of the regular exchange mechanism between the legislative bodies of the two countries, consolidate unity and friendship, and promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
While delivering a speech at the China-South Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum on Friday, Han said the unity, mutual assistance, joint development, and deepening cooperation in various fields between the two countries carry major contemporary significance and global influence.
Both sides should deepen strategic alignment, expand economic and trade cooperation, and enhance multilateral coordination, he said.
Han expressed the hope that the business community will make greater contributions to accelerating the building of a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future.
Chinese vice president visits South Africa
Chinese vice president visits South Africa
