Chinese President Xi Jinping met his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma on Saturday, with the two leaders vowing to strengthen bilateral ties and coordination on multilateral affairs.

Zuma is here to attend the Group of 20 summit on Sunday and Monday.

Xi said China always regards its relations with South Africa in a strategic and long-term way, and is committed to developing the two countries' special relations as comrades and brothers.

China is willing to join South Africa to promote the bilateral ties to reach a new level, Xi told Zuma, adding that the two sides should expand political mutual trust, strengthen exchanges between political parties, governments, legislatures and militaries, and enhance strategic coordination.

The two sides should boost cooperation between local governments, increase investment and employment, and expand cultural exchanges to forge a foundation for people-to-people friendship, the Chinese president said.

Xi stressed the unshakable determination for solidarity, cooperation and win-win deal between China and Africa, and unshakable support for peace and development in Africa.

As both are major developing countries and BRICS members, China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with South Africa in bilateral and multilateral affairs, and advance China-South Africa and China-Africa relations to make new progress, Xi said.

China is also ready to work together with South Africa to push forward BRICS cooperation agenda and make G20 cooperation more fruitful, Xi added.

Zuma said South Africa cherishes its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, adding bilateral relations are growing deeper and wider.

South Africa appreciates China's contribution to Africa's development and China's role in setting interconnective development and UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as topics of the G20 Hangzhou summit.

South Africa is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in the UN, G20, BRICS, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and other multilateral frameworks, Zuma said.

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