On December 2 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks in Pretoria with President Jacob Zuma of South Africa. The two heads of state agreed that China-South Africa relations are faced with historic development opportunities, and both sides should push China-South Africa relationship to a new high by taking the implementation of bilateral high-level consensus and the 5-10 Years Strategic Plan on Cooperation Between China and South Africa as opportunities and the Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Johannesburg as a new starting point.

Prior to the talks, Jacob Zuma held a grand welcoming ceremony for Xi Jinping at the square of the Union Building. The national flags of both China and South Africa were fluttering in the wind and the honor guard stood with reverence. Upon their arrival, Xi Jinping and his wife Mme. Peng Liyuan were warmly greeted by President Jacob Zuma and his wife. The two heads of state stepped on the reviewing stand. The military band played the national anthems of both nations, and a 21 gun-salute was sounded. Xi Jinping reviewed the honor guard.

During their talks, Xi Jinping pointed out that both China and South Africa regard their relations with the other as a strategic fulcrum and a priority in their foreign policy. With joint efforts of both countries, China and South Africa have maintained a strong development momentum in their comprehensive strategic partnership with increasingly enhanced political mutual trust and rapid development of pragmatic cooperation in various fields, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Xi Jinping stressed that China attaches importance to developing its special relations with South Africa characterized by "comrades plus brothers". Both sides should always be forward-looking strategic partners with high-level mutual trust by intensifying high-level exchanges, strengthening exchanges between the political parties, governments and legislative bodies of both sides and continuing to support each other on issues concerning their core interests and major concerns. Both sides should always be development partners pursuing equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation by playing their two major advantages of political mutual trust and complementary economy, boosting bilateral cooperation in marine economy, production capacity, energy, trade, investment and other key sectors, and pushing a balanced and sustainable development of bilateral trade. China will help South Africa's efforts to lead China-Africa cooperation on production capacity and promote Africa's industrialization, encourage the financial institutions to expand their financing scale for South Africa, innovate financial cooperation, and support speeding up the preparation work for an African regional center of the BRICS New Development Bank, so as to play a positive role in the development of South Africa and other African nations. Both sides should always be friendly partners who understand and learn from each other by expanding cooperation in education, culture, tourism, aviation and other sectors to cement the vigorous development momentum of people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Both sides should always be global partners who support and coordinate closely with each other by enhancing coordination and cooperation in regional and international organizations to promote BRICS cooperation for more results.

Jacob Zuma noted that he warmly welcomes President Xi Jinping's visit to South Africa and co-chairing of the Summit of FOCAC. At present, South Africa and China are joining efforts to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and the 5-10 Years Strategic Plan on Cooperation Between South Africa and China. Bilateral cooperation in such areas as trade investment, infrastructure, industrial parks, enterprises incubator, metallurgy, and marine economy is being steadily advanced. South Africa hopes to expand bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, science, technology, energy, marine products, commercial aviation, financing and other fields, and welcomes Chinese enterprises to increase investment in South Africa. South Africa supports expansion of bilateral personnel exchanges, and stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China within the multilateral organizations like the United Nations and Group of Twenty (G20), and on major global issues like addressing climate change so as to safeguard the common interests of developing nations. South Africa supports China in hosting the G20 Summit in Hangzhou.

Xi Jinping pointed out that he and Mr. President will co-chair the Summit of FOCAC in Johannesburg a few days later. China and Africa will jointly map out the plans for bilateral practical cooperation in the next three years by focusing on the theme of "China-Africa Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development", so as to accelerate Africa's industrialization process and agricultural modernization, and help Africa achieve independent and sustainable development. The summit is believed to be a historic event that will strengthen China-Africa solidarity and lead China-Africa cooperation and create a new era featured by China-Africa win-win cooperation and common development.

Jacob Zuma fully agreed with Xi Jinping, emphasizing that the Summit of FOCAC will be a grand event with historic significance and will surely deepen Africa-China cooperation.

Following the talks, the two heads of state attended the signing ceremony of multiple bilateral cooperation documents covering economy, trade, culture, science and technology.

.

The two heads of state also met the press together.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at above events.