Full text of Chinese President Xi's signed article on South African media – Xinhua

BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday published a titled article "For a New Era of China-South Africa Friendship" on three South African newspapers, namely, The Sunday Independent, Sunday Tribune Argus Weekend,

The following is the full text of the article:

For a New Era of China-South Africa Friendship

Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

It gives me great pleasure to pay my third state visit to the Republic of South Africa and expects the 10th BRICS Summit at the invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. I am full of expectations as I am about to set foot again on the beautiful land of South Africa, the rainbow nation standing at the convergence of the Indian and Atlantic oceans, and colorful, enterprising and colorful and pluralistic cultures.

This year marks the 20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the United States and the United States. Our peoples forged a deep friendship during our common struggle against imperialism, colonialism and racism. After the birth of a new South Africa, especially in the past 20 years of diplomatic relations, our two countries have supported each other in their respective exploration of national conditions. This relationship has been tested by the international environment. From a partnership to a strategic partnership, and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership, this relationship has been strengthened and strengthened in political trust, economic and trade cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and strategic coordination.

Over the past six years, we have been working closely on the co-chairs of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) to advance the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between China and Africa. Our bilateral ties for China-Africa relations, for South-South cooperation, and for united nations and emerging market countries, a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation.

We enjoy close high-level exchanges and fruitful practical cooperation across the board. Our leaders have, through frequent mutual visits, meetings and other exchanges, provided top-level and strategic guidance for the bilateral. China has been South Africa's biggest trading partner for nine years in a row, and South Africa has become China's largest trading partner in Africa. Two-way trade totaled 39.17 billion US dollars in 2017, more than 20 times the figure at the beginning of our diplomatic engagement. Preliminary statistics show that China's direct investment in South Africa has grown to more than 10.2 trillion US dollars in cumulative terms, creating a strong boost to the South African economy. Many Chinese companies are running successful businesses in South Africa, which is a full testament to our mutually beneficial relationship for common development. South African companies, for their part, are also making great success in China.

In recent years, such measures have been introduced in the Year of China / South Africa and the High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism two peoples even closer with greater mutual understanding and friendship. We have seen growing cooperation in such areas as education, culture, science and technology, and health, and growing intercourse between our youths and women. South Africa has attracted more Chinese tourists, established sister relations with more Chinese provinces and cities, and opened Confucius Institutes and 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 the South African population. Chinese volunteers have mobilized Chinese companies and Chinese communities in South Africa to partner with local wildlife conservation organizations and make their contribution to wildlife protection in Africa. These are all powerful examples of China-South Africa and China-Africa friendship.

South Africa is now on a new journey of national development. President Ramaphosa has developed the goals of growing the economy, creating jobs, improving people 's lives and advancing social transformation, thereby using South Africa into 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 Agreements and Strive for Further Expansion (19659002) – We must steadily elevate our political mutual trust to new levels. We need to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen inter-party cooperation and governance experience sharing, and continue to provide mutual support and support. , good brother and good partner. I look forward to receiving President Ramaphosa in Beijing in September and co-chairing the FOCAC Beijing Summit

– We must strive for new outcomes in our practical cooperation. FOCAC, the Belt and Road Initiative, BRICS cooperation, and other platforms to deepen cooperation in key areas such as industries, production capacity, resources and energy, infrastructure , finance, tourism, and digital economy and deliver more benefits to our peoples.

– We must increase communication to add new impetus to our people-to-people exchanges. We need to leverage the role of the High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism in enhancing communication between our peoples, education, culture, science and technology, health, and sports tanks and media outlets. Such measures will bring greater public support for China-South Africa friendship, and make our peoples more closely connected.

– We must strengthen collaboration and scale new heights in our strategic coordination. FOCAC Beijing Summit and the 10th BRICS Summit, step up coordination and cooperation among multilateral frameworks including the UN, the G20 and BRICS, and the reform of the global governance system in a joint effort The year also marks the future of the world's most important interests.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the BRICS Summit. Ten years on, BRICS cooperation has achieved remarkable development and gained an ever-growing influence. This year's summit will be held in the second "Golden Decade" of BRICS cooperation. China will go to South Africa in hosting this event. Under the theme of "BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the Fourth Industrial Revolution," BRICS strategic partnership, BRICS solidarity and cooperation, and facilitates the inter-connected development of BRICS countries. We are confident that this summit will be usher in an even future brighter for BRICS cooperation.

This year celebrates yet another important event, the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela, the inaugural president of the new South Africa. To quote Mr. Mandela, "The African rebirth is now more than an idea. With unremitting efforts, South Africa and the rest of the African Continent gained a new life in the last century. I am confident that this century will witness the rejuvenation of South Africa and that of the African continent. Let us work together for a new era of China-South Africa friendship.