Chinese President Xi’s special envoy, S. African president meet on bilateral ties
In a meeting to discuss bilateral ties, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special envoy Yang Jiechi met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Cape Town, South Africa.
Yang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, extended greetings and good wishes to Ramaphosa on behalf of Xi, saying Xi attaches great importance to the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.
According to Yang, through close contacts and enhanced strategic consultations, the two heads of state play a leading role in the development of bilateral relations.
Yang acknowledged the great progress in China and South Africa’s relationship thanks to joint efforts.
“The close connection and communication has played a leading role on the bilateral relationship which had massive development in the past 20 years under the efforts from two sides,’ Yang said.
“China is willing to strengthen the relationship and trust between the top leaders of two countries as well as the deeper cooperation to keep promoting the bigger development of the bilateral relationship. China wish South Africa could get more achievement on the development,” he added.
Yang also spoke on the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for September in Beijing as well as the 2018 summit of the emerging-market bloc BRICS to be held in Johannesburg saying the two sides should support each other to make them a success so as to boost bilateral ties and BRICS cooperation.
Xi and Ramaphosa will co-chair the FOCAC summit, Yang said.
South African president on his part conveyed his congratulations to Xi on his election as Chinese president while hailing the bilateral longtime friendship and rapidly developing cooperation.
Ramaphosa said his country is willing to better integrate policies and development strategies of the two countries so as to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation. He added South Africa will take part in the China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is scheduled for Nov. 5-10 in Shanghai.
“South Africa welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in its events for promoting investment and employment,” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa agreed that the two sides should work together to ensure the success of the upcoming FOCAC and BRICS summits as well as to bring bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.
On the same day, Yang Jiechi also met with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu and discussed bilateral ties.
