JOHANNESBURG

China and South Africa on Monday upgraded their bilateral relationship to an “all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era,” according to a joint statement.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held talks in Beijing ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The leaders agreed that their cooperative partnership will be underpinned by “strong political ties and focused on a prosperous future with balanced trade, and accelerated transformative economic growth.”

They reaffirmed that the two sides “cherish the special and ever-growing friendship between their countries.”

The two agreed to work together to “build an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization,” the statement said.

Xi congratulated Ramaphosa on his reelection as president, saying China believes “under his leadership, the South African Government of National Unity will achieve success in building a united, just, equal and prosperous country.”

Xi said his country is “committed to expanding solidarity and cooperation with South Africa.”

He said China is committed to sharing with South Africa experience in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, in building poverty alleviation model villages, and offering support for South Africa’s coordinated urban and rural development.

‘‘The two sides further agreed to continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the areas of culture, women, health, youth, education, sport, media, tourism, and other people-to-people cooperation fields,’’ the statement read.

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