JOHANNESBURG

China and Africa said late Thursday that the longstanding issue of the reform of multilateral financial institutions and the United Nations Security Council should be addressed.

“Both sides agreed that China-Africa cooperation should draw attention to the strengthening of existing global institutional mechanisms to ensure the participation of developing countries, thus allowing for inclusiveness and global trust,” said a joint statement.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping co-chaired a China-Africa leaders' roundtable dialogue in Johannesburg attended by several African leaders.

In his address, Xi urged African nations to work together with China in promoting a just and equitable international order.

“We should carry forward the spirit of sticking together in times of adversity, practice true multilateralism and unequivocally oppose vestiges of colonialism and hegemony in all forms,” he said.

“We should firmly support each other in defending co-interests, stand strong by the just cause of developing countries and work for a more just equitable order.”

China and Africa also reaffirmed their strong commitment to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and their staunch support for each other in upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty and security and development interests.

China also said it will provide support to the African Union Peace Fund to effectively address conflicts across the continent.