A woman walks past a banner advertising the 2023 BRICS's summit at the Sandton Convention Center on Aug 20, 2023, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (PHOTO / VCG)

President Xi Jinping has called for China and South Africa to be pacesetters for solidarity and cooperation, inheritors of China-Africa friendship and champions of common interests, saying that the countries' ties have gone beyond the bilateral scope and carry increasingly important global influence.

Xi made the remarks in an article that he wrote for South African media, which was published on Monday, as he started a state visit to the nation and is due to attend the 15th BRICS Summit to be held in Johannesburg from Tuesday to Thursday.

While commending China-South Africa ties, Xi also expressed China's readiness to work with its BRICS partners — Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa — to act on the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, build consensus on important issues, carry forward the tradition of independent diplomacy, and resolutely uphold international equity and justice.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and South Africa. President Xi Jinping said that he will use this visit to work with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to "chart the plan for a new chapter of our comprehensive strategic partnership"

This is Xi's sixth visit to South Africa. "Each of my visits to South Africa gave me new impressions. But the deepest is invariably the brotherly sentiments we have toward each other," Xi said in the article.

He described China-South Africa relations as one of the most vibrant bilateral relationships in the developing world. "Our relationship has entered a 'golden era', enjoying broad prospects and a promising future," Xi said.

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South Africa was the first African country to sign a Belt and Road cooperation document with China. It has been China's biggest trading partner in Africa for 13 years in a row, as well as one of the African countries with the largest amount of Chinese investment.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and South Africa. Xi said that he will use this visit to work with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to "chart the plan for a new chapter of our comprehensive strategic partnership".

"We need to increase our experience sharing on governance, and firmly support each other in independently exploring a path to modernization that suits our respective national conditions," he said.

Xi underlined the need for both countries to jointly safeguard their common interests. He emphasized that "what the world needs today is peace, not conflict; what the world wants is coordination, not confrontation".

China and South Africa, as natural members of the Global South, should all the more work together to appeal for a greater voice and influence of developing countries in international affairs, promote the accelerated reform of international financial institutions, and oppose unilateral sanctions and the "small yard, high fence" approach, he added.

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Regarding the BRICS Summit, Xi said that China will work with other BRICS partners to urge the international community to refocus on development issues, promote a greater role for the BRICS cooperation mechanism in global governance, and make the voice of BRICS stronger.

He mentioned that more countries are showing interest in joining BRICS cooperation. "This is a testament to the vitality and influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism."

Contact the writer at caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn