On the morning of August 22, 2023 local time, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to South Africa, met with South African President Ramaphosa at the Presidential Palace in Pretoria. The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on the development of China-South Africa relations in the new era as well as international and regional issues of common concern, and reached an important consensus, agreeing to join hands to promote China-South Africa Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a new level, and work hand in hand to build a high-level China-South Africa Community with Shared Future.

　　In Pretoria in August, there was clear sky and favorable wind. On the square of the Presidential Palace, flowers were blooming, and the flags of China and South Africa were fluttering in the wind. Escorted by the presidential motorcycle convoy, President Xi Jinping arrived at the Presidential Palace in a car, and Ramaphosa warmly greeted him at the drop-off point. The two heads of state mounted the reviewing stand. Then the honor guard performed a gun salute, the military band played the national anthems of China and South Africa, with the 21-gun salute being fired. President Xi Jinping reviewed the South African honor guard. The two heads of state shook hands with their accompanying personnel one by one.

　　After the welcome ceremony, the two heads of state held talks.

　　Xi noted that this was his fourth visit to South Africa in his capacity as President of China, and over the past 10 years, he had witnessed the vigorous development of China-South Africa relations. The key to good relations and deep friendship between China and South Africa lies in the the solidarity and deep friendship between the two parties on their respective development paths. At present, China is comprehensively promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization, and South Africa is exploring the road of modernization in line with its own national conditions. China is willing to work with the South Africa to inherit friendship, deepen cooperation, strengthen collaboration, promote the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, and work together to build a high-level China-South Africa Community with a Shared Future.

　　President Xi made the following suggestions.

　　First, China and South Africa should be strategic partners with a high degree of mutual trust. "Comrades and brothers" is the essence of China-South Africa relations. The two sides should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in legislative bodies, political parties, militaries and local communities, and continue to support each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns. China is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges and training cooperation with South Africa, and will provide assistance within its capacity to the African National Congress (ANC) in building the African Academy for Leadership.

　　Second, China and South Africa should be development partners for common progress. Mutual benefit and win-win cooperation should be the distinctive cornerstone of China-South Africa cooperation. Both sides should focus on promoting the construction of the "Belt and Road", the implementation of the "nine projects" of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China-South Africa Ten-Year Cooperative Strategic Plan, to consolidate cooperation in areas of advantage, and cultivate new growth points in cooperation. China will increase imports of South African products and encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in South Africa. Poverty reduction, agricultural benefit and rural revitalization are important elements of Chinese-style modernization, and China is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience with South Africa and help it implement the Poverty Reduction Demonstration Village Project.

　　Third, China and South Africa should be friendly partners who know each other well. People-to-people communication is a vivid manifestation of the friendship between the two countries. China is willing to make good use of the China-South Africa Technical and Vocational Education Cooperation Alliance, the "Future Africa - China-Africa TVET Cooperation Program" and other mechanisms to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in vocational education and youth employment, to facilitate South Africa to cultivate more talents urgently needed for economic and social development. Both sides should strengthen tourism cooperation, support scientific research institutions and enterprises to strengthen technical cooperation and joint research, so that the cooperation fruits can benefit the two peoples more.

　　Fourth, China and South Africa should be global partners in upholding justice. Independence and autonomy are principles that we jointly uphold. China supports South Africa in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to work with South Africa and other developing countries to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, to practice genuine multilateralism, to enhance the representativeness and voice of the countries of the Global South in global governance, and to strengthen collaboration on issues such as climate change, food security and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, so as to safeguard the common interests and development space of developing countries.

　　Xi pointed out that in recent years, the BRICS countries, upholding the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, have written wonderful stories of countries with different systems, cultures and geographies joining hands for development, and have become a gold standard for South-South cooperation. He highly appreciated the meticulous preparations made by South Africa for this BRICS leaders' meeting. And he looks forward to working with the leaders of the BRICS countries to discuss the development of BRICS solidarity in the new era, to promote fruitful outcomes of the meeting, and to push global governance in a more just and rational direction.

　　Xi emphasized that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future. In the face of a world beset by turmoil, China and Africa need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever before. China firmly supports African countries to unite and strengthen themselves, the AU to join the G20, and the process of industrialization and agricultural modernization in Africa. He looks forward to chairing the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with South Africa, and to working with other African leaders to draw up a new blueprint for China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, and to promote the building of a high-level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.

　　Ramaphosa said he was honored to receive President Xi Jinping on his fourth state visit to South Africa. China has given South Africa invaluable support in its struggle for national independence and liberation and in the process of realizing national development, offered support in difficult times such as during the COVID-19 epidemic, and would always been a sincere brother, friend and partner of South Africa. Both countries pursue their own development and prosperity and share the same or similar positions on many major international affairs. Over the past 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, South Africa has firmly adhered to the one-China principle, and relations between the two sides have flourished, with close exchanges at all levels and fruitful cooperation in various fields. China's investment and cooperation have vigorously promoted the economic and social development of South Africa, which played a crucial role in promoting the development and prosperity of African countries and countries of the Global South. South Africa highly values the great development achievements made by the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and is willing to have close inter-party exchanges with China, deepen exchanges of experience in party and national governance, carry out pilot cooperation in China-style poverty reduction, expand cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy, infrastructure construction, manufacturing and science and technology, and welcome more Chinese enterprises to invest and develop their businesses in South Africa.

　　Ramaphosa said that the world today faces multiple serious and complex challenges such as geopolitics and the energy crisis. He fully agrees with President Xi Jinping's proposal for win-win cooperation. South Africa and other Global South countries hope to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with China, so as to better address challenges together and promote the establishment of a more equal, just and rational international order. He is grateful for China's support for South Africa's successful hosting of the BRICS Leaders' Meeting. The South Africa is willing to work with the BRICS countries to firmly defend multilateralism, promote reform of the global governance system, and safeguard the common interests of the developing countries. He looks forward to hosting the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with President Xi Jinping and promoting the development of Africa-China relations to a higher level.

　　The two heads of state agreed to push the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to achieve greater development in the new era, and promote the Global South countries to enhance its representation and voice in global governance, injecting new impetus to deepen BRICS solidarity and cooperation and pushing the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.

　　After the meeting, Ramaphosa presented Xi with the “The Medal of South Africa”, the highest level of medals and the highest honor bestowed by South Africa on important friendly heads of state.

　　The two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents on the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", new energy and electricity, agricultural products, special economic zones and industrial parks, the blue economy, science and technology innovation, higher education and other areas.

　　Both sides issued the Joint Declaration of the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa.

　　At noon on the same day, Ramaphosa held a welcome banquet for President Xi at the presidential residence.

　　CAI Qi and WANG Yi attended the above event.

　　(Source: official website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

　　http://www.cidca.gov.cn/2023-08/23/c_1212259330.htm