On September 22, 2009, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma in New York. Both sides had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties, as well as other issues of common concern.

Hu said he was pleased to meet the old friend and congratulated Zuma once again on his election as South African president. Relations between China and South Africa have enjoyed comprehensive and rapid development since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1998. There have been frequent high-level contacts, increasingly enhanced mutual political trust, and deepened cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, culture, education, science and technology, sports, health and tourism, Hu said. The two nations have maintained close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and China and South Africa have become important strategic partners, he said.

During Zuma's visit to China in June last year, the two sides reached a wide-ranging consensus on many important issues, charting the course for further development of relations between the two countries and the two ruling parties, said the Chinese president. Over the past year, both sides have actively implemented the consensus and achieved new outcome in bilateral cooperation in various areas. Both sides have continued to offer mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's major interests and enhanced consultation and cooperation on international and regional issues such as the global financial crisis and climate change. Both countries have strived to tap potential in economic and trade cooperation, encouraged bilateral trade and investment and supported each other in joint efforts to overcome the crisis. Both sides have held grand celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-South Africa diplomatic ties, making their friendship more deeply rooted in the hearts of both peoples.

Hu emphasized that both countries are important developing nations. Consolidating and developing bilateral ties is in the fundamental interest of both countries and their peoples and is also conducive to promoting unity and cooperation between China and South Africa and among developing countries. Under the new circumstances, China is ready to continue joint efforts with South Africa to keep closer high-level contacts, expand trade cooperation, enrich humanities exchanges and enhance cooperation in multilateral areas, so as to continuously deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries and achieve their common development. China welcomes South Africa to participate in the Shanghai Expo and wishes the FIFA World Cup to be held in South Africa next year a great success.

Hu said China has always attached importance to Africa. Enhancing unity and cooperation with African countries remains an important cornerstone of China's foreign policy. Currently against the background of the global financial crisis, China's confidence and determination to develop China-Africa friendly cooperation remain unchanged and China will not reduce aid to Africa due to the international financial crisis. The fourth ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is scheduled for November in Egypt. China is ready to enhance communication and cooperate closely with African countries including South Africa to ensure the success of the conference and push China-Africa cooperation to a new level.

Hu pointed out that the upcoming third financial summit of G20 leaders is a significant meeting for the international community to join hands in addressing the global financial crisis. China and South Africa share a wide-ranging consensus on coping with the international financial crisis, fulfilling the UN Millennium Development Goals and reforming the international financial system. China is ready to strengthen coordination and accumulate consensus with South Africa to push for more practical results of the summit.

Hu said both China and South Africa maintain that the international community should join hands to address the global issue of climate change in the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. China is ready to enhance communication and coordination with South Africa to safeguard unity among developing countries. Both sides should also urge developed countries to honor their obligations and commitments and play their due role in pushing for the success of the Copenhagen Conference.

Echoing President Hu's proposals on developing bilateral ties, Zuma said the relations between South Africa and China are very important and their ties are of strategic significance. The two countries share broad common interests on many issues. China plays a crucial role in safeguarding interests of developing countries on the international arena. South Africa is ready to further develop ties with China, strengthen bilateral cooperation in all areas and advance bilateral trade relations. Both sides should hold consultation and coordinate positions on addressing major global issues such as the international financial crisis and climate change. South Africa will continue to play its positive role in promoting China-Africa relations and will participate in the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

Wang Qishan, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo attended the meeting.