On Nov 22, Vice President of the People's Republic of China Li Yuanchao co-chaired in Cape Town with Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, the 6th Plenary Session of China-South Africa Bi-National Commission and delivered remarks.

The commission heard the working reports from sub-committees on foreign relations, economy and trade, science and technology, mining, energy and education. The commission reviewed the remarkable progress made in China-South Africa relations over the past three years and identified the way forward for bilateral relations.

It was agreed by both countries that China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership today enjoys the strong momentum of growth and has entered the best period in history. The mutual political trust is deeper than ever before with fruitful outcomes in various cooperation areas. The important agreements between the two presidents and the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) are being implemented in a comprehensive manner. With profound and complex changes taking place in the international situation, the development strategies and strengths of both countries enjoy high complementarities. There is a solid foundation and broad prospects for bilateral cooperation. China and South Africa should further strengthen the alignment of development strategies and take concrete steps to promote cooperation in key areas so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Both countries also agreed to continue to implement the important agreements reached between the two presidents and the outcomes of the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit. Efforts will be focused on the following aspects: First, consolidate and deepen political trust. The two countries will maintain the sound momentum of high-level exchanges and continue to support and coordinate with each other on issues of core interests and major concerns for both China and South Africa. Second, deepen and advance practical cooperation. The two countries will continue to cooperate on infrastructure building, special economic zone and industrial park development, equipment manufacturing, production capacity, blue economy, energy and resources development, finance, investment and trade facilitation, etc. Both countries will make concerted efforts to achieve tangible progress in mutually-agreed major cooperation projects. Third, enrich and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges. The two countries will launch China-South Africa High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism at an early date and will further strengthen cooperation and exchanges in such areas as human resource development, education, tourism, media and youth, in an effort to consolidate popular support for China-South Africa relations. Fourth, enhance coordination and collaboration on international and regional affairs. The two countries will maintain close communication on major issues including global economic and financial governance, climate change, cyber security, counter-terrorism and counter-transnational organized crimes as well as human rights. China and South Africa will support each other in hosting the BRICS Summit in 2017 and 2018. Fifth, fully leverage the role of China and South Africa as the co-chair of the FOCAC and push forward the comprehensive and effective implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit. The two countries will together improve the FOCAC mechanism and ensure relevant forum meetings a success, thus making good preparation for the next Ministerial Conference.

Since its establishment in 2000, China-South Africa Bi-National Commission has always played an active role in facilitating bilateral cooperation in important areas.

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