China, S. Africa to advance comprehensive strategic partnership

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao during their meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, on Nov 22, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

CAPE TOWN - South African President Jacob Zuma met visiting Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao here on Tuesday, with both vowing to further advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Zuma said that South Africa and China are best friends and comrades who are dear to each other like brothers. He said the two countries hold the same or similar views on many issues and maintain frequent high-level exchanges.

Bilateral cooperation is strong in various fields and full of potential, said Zuma. China's investment in the COEGA Industrial Development Zone in the Eastern Cape Province and other major cooperative projects have helped create jobs in South Africa and contributed to the nation's development, he said.

Zuma, who is also president of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC), said that the ANC enjoys a deep friendship with the Communist Party of China (CPC), and is willing to conduct exchanges concerning state governance with the CPC.

He added that the CPC's adherence to the strict governance of the Party is worth learning from by the ANC.

For his part, Li said Chinese President Xi Jinping and Zuma have met eight times since 2013 and conducted profound exchanges concerning development of bilateral relations and major issues of mutual concern.

Li said that China always regards its relations with South Africa from a strategic and long-term perspective, and will actively adhere to its Africa policy based on the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith, and strike a right balance between upholding principles and pursuing benefits.

He said China will comprehensively implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries and the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit held last December in Johannesburg, South Africa so as to advance the development of the China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.

He added that the CPC is willing to deepen cooperation and strengthen exchanges on state governance with the ANC so as to serve the development of state-to-state relations.