Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan held talks with South African Vice President David Mabuza at the Great Hall of the People and co-chaired the seventh plenary meeting of the China-South African Bilateral National Committee.

Wang Qishan said, China and South Africa are both important major developing countries and emerging market countries, and are important strategic partners for each other. The significance of bilateral relations has gone beyond bilateral scope, and its strategic and global impact is on the rise. Since last year, President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa have achieved a historic exchange of visits and reached important consensus, providing guidance to the development of bilateral relations. The political mutual trust between the two sides has been continuously strengthened, and cooperation in the fields of economic, trade, investment, people-to-people exchanges and so on, has achieved fruitful results. China-South African relationship has been in the forefront of China-Africa cooperation.

Wang Qishan said, the China-South Africa Bilateral National Committee has played a very important role in deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. In the next phase, we will strengthen top-level planning, consolidate political mutual trust, firmly support each other's core interests and major concerns, and raise the level of strategic cooperation. We should share development opportunities, continuously raise the level of pragmatic cooperation, and create a number of new bright spots for cooperation. It is necessary to consolidate people-to-people exchanges and continue to promote cooperation between the two countries in the fields of higher education, personnel training, medical and health care, and cultural tourism. We should strengthen communication and coordination within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Group of Twenty and the BRICS. We should work together to safeguard multilateralism, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and set a model of unity and cooperation among major developing countries.

Wang Qishan said, China is willing to work with South Africa and African countries to integrate the Belt and Road Initiative, the "Eight Major Initiatives"of the Forum Beijing Summit with the "2063 agenda" of the African Union, as well as the development strategies of African countries, so as to push China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level and build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. China and South China should communicate closely and work together to help the BRICS countries to work together to firmly safeguard multilateralism, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and organize high-level meetings between the two countries, so as to lead the BRICS cooperation along the track of the second "golden decade."

Mabuza congratulated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and wished China greater achievements in economic and social construction in the days to come. Mabuza said, South Africa regards China as a trusted partner and friend. South Africa is willing to make joint efforts with China to continue to play a leading role in Bilateral National Committee mechanism in all fields of cooperation, constantly raise the level of all-round cooperation between the two countries, and push South African-China relations to a new level. South Africa attaches importance to China on international and regional issues. China's concerns will be viewed and addressed in a manner that best conforms to the development of bilateral relations.

Wang Qishan and Mabuza listened to the reports of the six sub-committees of the China-South African Bilateral National Committee on diplomacy, economy and trade, science and technology, energy, education, and minerals. The two sides reviewed the progress made since the last meeting, fully exchanged views and reached extensive consensus on the full implementation of the outcomes of the meeting between the heads of state of the two countries and the FOCAC Beijing Summit, as well as promoting the practical cooperation. The two sides agreed in principle to formally establish a marine economic sub-committee as soon as possible and to promote relevant cooperation.

Before the talks, Wang Qishan held a welcoming ceremony for Mabuza. He Wei, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and others attended the ceremony.