Beijing, October 28th—Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with David Dabede Mabuza, Deputy President of South Africa and Deputy President of the African National Congress (ANC).

Song welcomed Mabuza’s visit to China and his attendance at seventh plenary session of the China-South Africa Bilateral National Commission. Song said that since last year, President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa have successfully exchanged visits and held several meetings, which has provided strong impetus for greater development of bilateral relations in the new era. The CPC has maintained long-term friendly exchanges with the ANC, which is the feature and advantage of China-South Africa relations. The ruling parties of the two countries should implement the important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, further enhance political mutual trust, continue to support each other on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, provide political guidance for bilateral relations and push for new results in bilateral pragmatic cooperation.

Song said that the Vice President's visit to China comes at a special time when the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee is being held. This meeting will focus on several major issues concerning upholding and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and modernizing the country's governance system and capacity, which is of great significance. The CPC attaches great importance to sharing experience in party governance and state administration with the ANC, and supports the ANC in exploring a development path suited to its national conditions so as to better build the country and benefit the people.

Mabuza congratulated the People's Republic of China on its 70th anniversary, saying that the Chinese people, under the leadership of the CPC, have made great achievements in development, which the world admires. The ANC is grateful for the valuable support provided by the CPC for a long time. The ANC hopes to learn from the experience of the CPC in party governance and state administration and improve the party building and governance capacity. South Africa will continue to firmly adhere to the One China policy and looks forward to more results at seventh plenary session of the South Africa-China Bilateral National Commission, expanding bilateral pragmatic cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, people-to-people and local affairs so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

Guo Yezhou, IDCPC Vice-minister, was present.

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