Wang: China ready to inject new impetus into Africa's development, revitalization

China is willing to work with African countries to ensure the successful convening of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to inject new impetus into Africa's development and revitalization, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Sunday.

He made the remarks when meeting with South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, who is currently in Beijing to attend the summit, which will be held from Wednesday to Friday.

Since the inception of the forum in 2000, it has effectively driven Africa's development and become an important banner of South-South cooperation, leading international cooperation with Africa, Wang said.

China will work along with South Africa to bolster strategic communication and deepen political mutual trust to advance bilateral cooperation to scale new heights, Wang added.

Speaking of profound friendship between the two countries, Lamola said South Africa and China enjoy a high degree of political mutual trust, adding that economic and trade cooperation has achieved leapfrog development with China being the country's largest trading partner.

He pledged that South Africa will respect China's sovereignty and continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

South Africa highly appreciates China's leadership in international agenda and supports China's series of global initiatives, Lamola said, adding the country is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China within multilateral frameworks and jointly promote unity and cooperation among countries in the Global South.

The two foreign ministers also positively evaluated the achievements of bilateral cooperation in various fields and committed to expanding cooperation in areas such as trade, investment and green development to deliver more tangible benefits to the two peoples.