This is my fourth state visit to South Africa as the President of China. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Korea. In the past 25 years, China South relations have achieved leapfrog development, strategic mutual trust has reached a new height, cooperation in various fields has been comprehensively promoted, and multilateral cooperation has become closer. China South relations far exceed bilateral scope and are increasingly of strategic significance and global influence.
At present, the CPC is working together to lead the Chinese people to comprehensively promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation with Chinese path to modernization. South Africa is also actively and independently exploring a development path that suits its own national conditions. China South relations are facing new development opportunities. Just now, I had a fruitful meeting with President Ramaphosa, exchanging views on the development of bilateral relations in the new era and international and regional issues of common concern, and reaching important consensus. We have witnessed the signing of a series of important bilateral cooperation documents. I am full of confidence in the prospects of friendly cooperation between the two countries.
Both President Ramaphosa and I believe that China and South Africa should become strategic partners with high mutual trust. We need to maintain a good momentum of high-level exchanges, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, continuously deepen political mutual trust, strengthen exchanges of experience in governance, and continue to support each other on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns.
We all agree that mutually beneficial and pragmatic cooperation between China and South Africa has yielded fruitful results, and both sides should become development partners for common progress. Strengthen the alignment of development strategies, take the implementation of the nine projects of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation and the China South Ten Year Cooperation Strategic Plan as the main line, consolidate cooperation in advantageous areas, and cultivate new growth points for cooperation. China is willing to import more high-quality products from South Africa, continue to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest and develop in South Africa, and continuously deepen cooperation in fields such as electricity, new energy, and technological innovation between the two countries.
We all attach great importance to people to people communication and advocate that both sides should be friendly partners who know each other and get to know each other. We must adhere to putting the people at the center in our cooperation, so that the results of cooperation can benefit more of the people of both countries. The Chinese side supports the South African government's efforts to strengthen vocational education and promote youth employment. Both sides agree to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in fields such as education, technology, culture, and tourism.
We all agree that China and South Africa are important developing countries and emerging market countries with significant influence, and both sides should be global partners in upholding justice. We need to strengthen strategic collaboration, practice true multilateralism, and promote the expansion of the representation and voice of "global southern" countries in global governance. China firmly supports the construction of African integration, supports the substantial progress made by the African Union in joining the G20 this year, and supports South Africa in playing a greater role in international and regional affairs.
Under the current situation, this meeting is of great significance for the BRICS countries to strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the development and growth of the BRICS cooperation mechanism. As the rotating presidency of the BRICS countries, South Africa has done a lot of effective work in preparing for the meeting, and China highly appreciates this. I believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, this BRICS summit will be a complete success.
We look forward to working with other African leaders attending the conference to create a new blueprint for China Africa unity and cooperation, injecting new strong impetus into the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa.
The South African people sincerely thank the Chinese government and people for providing valuable support for South Africa's anti apartheid struggle and national development cause, and for providing a large amount of medical material assistance for South Africa's fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.We all agree to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation, further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, tourism, education, and digital economy, and strengthen international cooperation on major international and regional issues.
