China, South Africa elevate relations

President Xi Jinping and visiting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the elevation of bilateral ties to an all-around strategic cooperative partnership for the new era on Monday, charting new directions for bolstering diplomatic relations and pragmatic cooperation.

Xi hosted Ramaphosa at the Great Hall of the People in a welcoming ceremony marked by red-carpet treatment and a guard of honor, underscoring Beijing's unwavering commitment to deepening ties with Africa's most industrialized nation.

The two leaders jointly witnessed the signing of bilateral agreements on the application of the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, two-way trade, market access for agricultural products and cultural heritage, further cementing the partnership.

A joint statement issued after the talks reaffirmed the commitment of both nations to collaborate on global issues and support each other's development goals.

"Despite the ever-changing international landscape, the missions of both our countries to pursue modernization and promote China-Africa cooperation remain unchanged," Xi told the South African president, emphasizing the historic and global significance of stronger China-South Africa ties.

Ramaphosa is also among African leaders visiting China for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, scheduled from Wednesday to Friday.

"In the new era and on the new journey, strengthening unity and cooperation between China and South Africa aligns with the shared expectations of the peoples of both countries, resonates with the historical process of the Global South's growth and expansion, and holds significant contemporary relevance and global impact," Xi said.

The meeting came one year after Xi's state visit to Pretoria, and South Africa is the country in Africa most visited by the Chinese president.

Xi outlined three key directions for the newly elevated partnership: pursuing mutual progress to advance political trust, deepening win-win economic cooperation, and fostering people-to-people exchanges.

He advocated enhanced cooperation in emerging fields such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence and new energy. Xi also pledged increased opportunities for South African youth, through scholarships and vocational training, to ensure that the benefits of the partnership extend to future generations.

The Chinese president explained that FOCAC is a model of South-South cooperation and leads international cooperation with Africa.

The nation's doors to African countries will open wider and wider, and China is willing to work with South Africa and other African countries to continuously create new momentum for cooperation, promote high-quality development in China-Africa cooperation, and ensure that the "express train" of China-Africa cooperation runs faster and better, he said.

Ramaphosa told Xi that the elevation of bilateral ties will strengthen mutually beneficial political and economic ties for the benefit of both countries and their people.

According to a statement from the South African presidency, Ramaphosa reaffirmed that "political rapport is the foundation of an unwavering and valuable friendship".

"Our two countries share many common objectives. Building on the firm foundation of solidarity, we continue to provide support in promoting our interests and those of the African continent and the Global South," he said.

South Africa is willing to continue being a trustworthy and reliable friend of China, he said, adding that his country aims to enhance people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in education and culture.

Premier Li Qiang also met with Ramaphosa in Beijing on Monday. Li said China would like to work with South Africa to implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state and jointly promote the steady development of bilateral ties and cooperation.

China is South Africa's largest trading partner, and South Africa is China's largest trading partner in Africa. In 2023, bilateral trade reached $55.62 billion. Over 200 Chinese companies have invested in South Africa, creating more than 400,000 local jobs, according to the Chinese embassy in South Africa.

Zhou Yuyuan, a senior research fellow and deputy director at the Center for West Asian and African Studies at the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, said the fact that Xi and Ramaphosa have made mutual visits over the past year serves as another testament to the "golden era" of China-South Africa relations.

"It signifies that China and South Africa see each other as a priority partner and strategic partner in their foreign relations," Zhou said, adding that bilateral cooperation in strategic and emerging sectors will spur the African country's development and provide valuable experience for China-Africa cooperation.

The elevation of ties will pave the way for taking China-South Africa cooperation to higher levels and broader scopes, he added.