国内英语新闻:China-South Africa ties at all-time high: senior CPC leader

BEIJING, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) leader Zhou Yongkang said here Friday that China-South Africa relations have never been so good.

Zhou, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks when meeting with South African Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.

Hailing South African President Jacob Zuma's visit to China in August, Zhou said bilateral cooperation in trade and economy, culture, justice and security had maintained sound momentum.

During Zuma's visit, the two countries signed the Beijing Declaration, in which they announced the establishment of the "comprehensive strategic partnership" and mapped out cooperative framework over the next 10 to 15 years.

Zhou said he hoped China and South Africa could further implement consensuses reached by leaders of the two countries.

Manuel, also in charge of South Africa's National Planning Commission , said he was responsible for the next 15-year plan of South Africa's development, and hoped to learn more from China's success in development.

Zhou said China was willing to expand exchanges with South Africa in this regard, as China was working on formulating the 12th Five-year Plan (2011-2015).

China became South Africa's largest export destination at the beginning of 2009, and remained South Africa's largest import partner.