On the afternoon of September 2, 2024, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and for a state visit, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

Li Qiang said that President Xi Jinping held talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa and jointly announced the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era, opening a new chapter in building a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future. This not only conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also holds significant importance to the reform and improvement of the global governance system and the development and growth of the Global South. China is ready to make joint efforts with South Africa to implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, and promote the stable and sound development of China-South Africa relations and cooperation.

Li Qiang pointed out that China is ready to strengthen the synergy of development strategies with South Africa, take high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as a guide, accelerate the implementation of the 10 Years Strategic Programme on Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of South Africa (2020-2029), give full play to the role of the Bi-National Commission and other mechanisms, expand cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, new energy, sci-tech innovation and other fields, and constantly consolidate and deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation. China is ready to import more quality products from South Africa and hopes that South Africa will continue to provide a sound business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in South Africa. The two sides should ensure the success of the fourth meeting of the China-South Africa High-level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism, advance cooperation in culture, tourism, education, youth, poverty reduction and other fields, and consolidate the popular support for the friendship between the two countries. China is ready to work with South Africa and other African countries to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the common understandings reached between Chinese and African leaders, and jointly create a better future for China and Africa.

Cyril Ramaphosa said that the peoples of South Africa and China enjoy time-honored friendship, and the current bilateral relations witness a strong momentum of development. South Africa always regards China as its most trustworthy friend and most important strategic partner. The elevation of bilateral relations once again confirms the uniqueness of South Africa-China relations. South Africa firmly pursues the one-China policy and supports the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind and a series of global initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping. South Africa is ready to strengthen exchanges at all levels with China, expand the scale of trade under the framework of Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in areas such as investment, infrastructure, energy, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges. South Africa attaches great importance to the core role China has played in global affairs, highly appreciates China's commitment to safeguarding the interests of Africa and developing countries, and believes that the summit will be a successful grand event that will inject new impetus into Africa's development and revitalization.

Wu Zhenglong was present at the meeting.