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This year marks the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, but the friendly interactions between our peoples go far beyond. Our peoples have forged a deep friendship during our common struggle against imperialism, colonialism and racism. After the birth of a new South Africa, especially during the last 20 years of diplomatic relations, our two countries have supported and learned from each other in our respective exploration of a development path adapted to national conditions.
This relationship has withstood the test of time and a changing international environment. From a partnership to a strategic partnership, to a comprehensive strategic partnership, this relationship has made great strides and has shown strong growth in political trust, economic and trade cooperation, interpersonal exchanges and strategic coordination.
Over the last six years, our two countries have worked closely together as co-chairs of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) to advance China's global strategic and cooperative partnership with the United States. ;Africa. Our bilateral relations have served as a model for Sino-African relations, for South-South cooperation and for unity and cooperation among emerging countries, and have offered valuable experience to build an even stronger community with Common future between China and Africa and a new kind of international relations characterized by mutual respect, equity and justice, and a win-win cooperation.
We benefit from close high level exchanges and fruitful practical cooperation in all fields. Our leaders, through frequent mutual visits, meetings and other exchanges, provided high-level strategic advice for bilateral relations. China has been South Africa's largest trading partner for nine years and South Africa has become China's largest trading partner in Africa
Bilateral trade totaled 39.17 billions of dollars in 2017, more than 20 times the beginning. diplomatic engagement. Preliminary statistics show that China's direct investment in South Africa has increased more than 80 times and exceeded the cumulative 10.2 billion dollars, creating tens of thousands of jobs for local communities and strongly stimulating the South African economy. Many Chinese companies run successful businesses in South Africa, which is a testament to our mutually beneficial relationship for common development.
South African companies, for their part, also achieve great success in China
In recent years, such measures as the organization of the Year of China and the United South Africa and the launch of the high-level interpersonal exchange mechanism. We have brought our two peoples closer together with greater mutual understanding and friendship. We have seen growing cooperation in areas such as education, culture, science and technology, health, and increasing exchanges between our young people and our women. South Africa has attracted more Chinese tourists, established sister relationships with more provinces and Chinese cities, and opened more Confucius Institutes and Classrooms than any other sub-Saharan country. .
China has become an increasingly popular destination for South African students and tourists. Traditional Chinese medicine companies are actively exploring the South African market, introducing acupuncture, cupping and other traditional Chinese therapies to South African populations as a new option to treat diseases and stay fit. Chinese volunteers have mobilized Chinese companies and Chinese communities in South Africa to partner with local animal welfare organizations and contribute to the protection of wildlife in Africa.
These are all powerful examples of friendship between China, South Africa and China and Africa.
South Africa is now in a new era of national development. President Ramaphosa presented the objectives of the growth of the economy, the creation of jobs, the improvement of people's lives and the social transformation, thus bringing South Africa in a new era of hope and confidence. China looks forward to working with South Africa to build on the momentum of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations and to work for faster and stronger progress in our overall strategic partnership.
* We must constantly elevate our mutual political trust to new levels. We must maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen the cooperation between the parties and the sharing of governance experiences, continue to provide each other with understanding and support on matters relating to our respective major interests and concerns and remain eternally friendly, good brother and good partner. I look forward to receiving President Ramaphosa in Beijing in September and co-chairing with him the FOCAC Summit in Beijing.
* We must aim for new results in our practical cooperation. We must promote complementarity between our development strategies and make full use of bilateral mechanisms, FOCAC, the Belt and Road initiative, BRICS cooperation and other platforms to deepen cooperation in key areas such as industries, production capacities, resources and energy, infrastructure, finance, tourism and the digital economy and offer more benefits to our peoples.
* We need to increase communication to give new impetus to our interpersonal exchanges. We must take advantage of the role of the high-level interpersonal exchange mechanism to improve communication between our peoples, expand cooperation in education, culture, science and technology, health and sport and promote exchanges between young people, think tanks and the media. Such measures will bring greater public support to the Sino-South African friendship and make our peoples closer to each other.
* We need to strengthen collaboration and reach new heights in our strategic coordination. We must support each other to host the 2018 FOCAC Summit in Beijing and the 10th BRICS Summit, intensify coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks, including the UN, the G20 and the BRICS and promote the reform of the global governance system. a joint effort to promote the fundamental interests of African countries and other developing countries, to build a new kind of international relations and a community with a common future for humanity and to bring wisdom and proposals to solve the problems of the world. more urgent of the world.
This year also marks the tenth anniversary of the BRICS Summit. Ten years later, BRICS cooperation has undergone remarkable development and has gained increasing influence. This year's summit will be the first of the second "golden decade" of BRICS cooperation. China will do everything to support South Africa in the organization of this event.
Under the theme "BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution", we will deepen the BRICS strategic partnership, strengthen BRICS solidarity and cooperation and facilitate the interconnected development of the BRICS countries . We are confident that this summit will usher in an even brighter future for BRICS cooperation.
This year is yet another important event, the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela, the inaugural president of the new South Africa. To quote Mr. Mandela, "The African renaissance is now more than an idea, its seeds are sown in the regional communities we are building and on the continent as a whole." With unremitting efforts, South Africa and the rest of the African continent have gained a new life in the last century. I am confident that this century will see the rejuvenation of South Africa and the entire African continent.
Let 's work together for a new era of friendship between China and South Africa.
* Xi is the president of the People's Republic of China
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