South African president Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday applauded president Xi Jinping of China for helping African countries ease their debt crisis.

Mr Ramaphosa thanked China for assisting South Africa and other African countries fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during a brief meeting at the G20 summit in Bali.

He extended congratulations again to Mr Jinping on his re-election as general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

He also congratulated him on the full success of the 20th CPC National Congress, and on the great achievements in China’s development.

The president said that South Africa will continue to, without hesitation, firmly uphold the one-China principle.

Ramaphosa said his country was willing to learn from China’s experience in green development and energy transformation, and participate in the Belt and Road cooperation.

The South African president also said that his country was willing to welcome Chinese enterprises to invest and conduct cooperation in South Africa.

Responding, Mr Jinping said China had always viewed both countries’ relations from a strategic perspective, and would consolidate political mutual trust with South Africa and push for greater development of China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership.

(Xinhua/NAN)