Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in Beijing on Monday, vowing to expand comprehensive cooperation.

The bilateral relationship between China and South Africa entered a new phase since the two countries established their strategic partnership in 2004, featuring successful high-level visits and fruitful cooperation in various fields, Yang said.

"China will carry out agreements and consensus with South Africa, further expanding economic and trade cooperation, enhancing communication and coordination in multilateral fields, to deepen the strategic partnership of China and South Africa," said Yang.

Dlamini-Zuma spoke highly of the political cooperation between the two countries, the growing trade and China's increasing investment in Africa, saying South Africa was satisfied with the development of relations with China.

South Africa will strengthen cooperation with China in the fields of economy and trade, media, tourism and personnel training, Zuma said.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

Dlamini-Zuma began his official visit to China on May 20 at the invitation of Yang. Premier Wen Jiabao met with him on Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2007)