Visiting President Hu Jintao said in Pretoria on Wednesday that strong China-South Africa relations of all-around cooperation serve the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples.

Hu made the remarks as delivering a speech at the University of Pretoria, a prestigious university which is to celebrate its 99th birthday soon.

"It has been proved that strong China-South Africa relations of all-around cooperation serve the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples, promote unity and cooperation among developing countries and contribute to global peace and development," Hu said.

The Chinese government and people will work closely with the South African side to enhance mutual political trust and practical cooperation, as well as to steadily strengthen bilateral strategic partnership to benefit both peoples.

Hu called South Africa, renowned as the "rainbow nation," an important country in both Africa and the world.

Hu also said peace, development and cooperation are the defining features of current times while China and Africa are important forces for global peace and development.

He described the year 2006 as a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations, citing the success of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

At the summit, Hu added, the Chinese and African leaders unanimously agreed to establish and develop a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchange.

The Chinese president arrived in South Africa after concluding visits to Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia and Namibia. He will also visit Mozambique and Seychelles.

(Xinhua News Agency February 8, 2007)