Chinese Vice President Meets with South African President Zuma on Ties, Cooperation

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) meets with South African President Jacob Zuma in Cape Town, South Africa, Nov. 17, 2010. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping held talks with South African President Jacob Zuma here on Wednesday, calling for all-round cooperation and richer content of the comprehensive strategic partnership and strengthened coordination in international policies.

During the talks, Xi first conveyed the warm greetings from Chinese President Hu Jintao to South African President Zuma.

Xi hailed the Beijing Declaration on the Establishment of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed by the leaders of the two countries during Zuma's visit to China in August this year, saying that it has lifted China-South Africa relations to a new high and will guide the bilateral relations in the new era.

Xi, who arrived here on Tuesday for a four-day official visit to South Africa, said the main purpose of his visit is to co-host with South African Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe the fourth plenary session of the China-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC).

Xi said this plenary session marks a significant step in fulfilling the goals proposed by the two sides in the Beijing Declaration and BNC serves as an important platform to push forward bilateral cooperation in all areas and further implement the consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries.

He said China is willing to work together with South Africa to promote the all-round cooperation, hoping that the two sides will continue to maintain closer high-level political contacts, and further deepen pragmatic cooperation especially in the areas such as trade, economy, agricultural technology and professional training.

China wishes to strengthen close coordination in key international issues with South Africa, said Xi. China would also like to coordinate with BASIC countries on occasions of the United Nations such as in the forthcoming climate change conference to be held in Cancun, Mexico.

Xi noted that China is to strengthen communication and cooperation with South Africa within the framework of the China- Africa Cooperation Forum so as to realize peace and development in the African continent.

Xi also introduced the basic content and China's experience in formulating the 12th Five-year Plan (2011-2015).

For his part, Zuma spoke highly of China's role in international affairs, saying that the South Africa-China relations are strategic.

South Africa hopes that the Chinese friends will play an active role in South Africa's newly-launched New Economic Growth Path including the key projects in infrastructure construction of the African continent, said Zuma.

Also on Wednesday, Xi met with Speaker of South African National Assembly Max Sisulu.

Source: English.news.cn