Premier calls to expand trade and investment with South Africa

China is ready to expand cooperation in special economic zones and industrial parks to further expand bilateral trade with Johannesburg, Premier Li Keqiang said when meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday.

Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Beijing to attend the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

Over the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have developed relations in a comprehensive way to cast global and strategic impacts, Li said.

China is willing to deepen cooperation in industry, equipment manufacturing, investment and maritime economy, and encourage Chinese companies to conduct localized cooperation in South Africa, Li said.

He also called to further cooperation under the BRICS mechanism and safeguard multilateralism and free trade to protect developments of developing countries.

Ramaphosa said bilateral relations have been strengthened over the past two decades. The strategic significance of two countries' relations is embodied in the promotion and deepening of exchanges in various fields and all levels, he said.

South Africa is willing to continue working with China in boosting cooperation in diverse fields, strengthening multilateral mechanisms, expanding South-South cooperation, and safeguarding the multilateralism centered on the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, he said.