Ties with South Africa, Cambodia highlighted

President Xi Jinping underlined on Friday the importance of keeping up the momentum of cooperation within BRICS and formulating a more comprehensive, closer, pragmatic, inclusive and high-quality partnership.

Speaking in a phone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Xi said China, as the rotating chair of BRICS this year, is willing to work with South Africa to promote growth among members of the emerging-market bloc and make global development stronger, greener and more healthy.

The president expressed Beijing's commitment to work with different sides to uphold true multilateralism, defend international fairness and justice and safeguard the legitimate and common interests of emerging markets and developing nations.

China and South Africa share a special friendship featuring comradeship and brotherhood, and the two nations should jointly press ahead to ensure the higher quality, more extensive coverage and deeper level of bilateral ties, Xi said.

He called on both nations to continue extending each other steadfast support on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns and to accelerate the implementation of the nine projects mapped out last year during the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

China welcomes high-quality imports from South Africa and supports bilateral cooperation in emerging sectors, he said, adding that Chinese businesses will be encouraged to invest in South Africa.

Xi said China will explore the joint production of COVID-19 vaccines with South Africa.

Ramaphosa hailed China as a true reliable partner and friend for South Africa and African countries, saying that he appreciates China upholding a just position and providing support to his nation and Africa to get through the difficult times.

He expressed hope for closer ties and more consolidated friendship between them, adding that the two nations should continue with the fine tradition of supporting and helping each other and deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation in various sectors and strategic cooperation between Africa and China.

South Africa supports the work of China as this year's BRICS chair and looks forward to a successful summit, he added.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the Ukraine situation, and they both believe that sovereign nations are entitled to decide their own positions independently, and Russia and Ukraine should be backed in maintaining the momentum of peace talks and solving disputes through negotiations.

Xi also spoke over the phone with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday. Bilateral ties have become even stronger despite various tests, he noted.

Xi said the two nations should promote the high-quality building of the Belt and Road and accelerate the construction of major projects including highways, airports and special economic zones, and expand cooperation on finance and the digital economy.

China will increase its imports of high-quality agricultural produce from Cambodia, conduct more bilateral cooperation to improve people's well-being, including rural roads and education, and help with rural development and poverty alleviation in the nation, he said.

China firmly supports the central position of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the regional cooperation framework and supports Cambodia's role as the ASEAN rotating chair this year, the president said.

Hun Sen said the quick growth of bilateral trade and the progress of Belt and Road projects showed that the two nations are true ironclad brothers. The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Ukraine, and they both highlighted the need to uphold a balanced and fair position and make proactive efforts for peace and dialogue.