Xi and Zuma vow to prioritise Sino-South African relations

China and South Africa vowed to make their relationship a diplomatic priority and tackle trade imbalances as they signed a series of deals on deepening co-operation following talks between President Xi Jinping and his counterpart Jacob Zuma.

In a joint declaration released after the talks yesterday, they said the Sino-South African relationship was "vibrant and important". It said the leaders had "agreed to put Sino-African ties as the priority … of their nations' foreign affairs policy".

Xi arrived in the South African capital of Pretoria yesterday before heading to Durban for a summit between the five major emerging economies.

South Africa is the third stop of Xi's maiden diplomatic trip as head of state, after Russia and Tanzania. But his visit to Africa has been marred by controversy over China's presence in the continent, with critics saying that Beijing is exploiting Africa for natural resources, and that Chinese firms have violated labour laws and refused to hire local workers.

The joint declaration vowed to improve the structure of trade and support technological transfer, industrial financing and bilateral investment.

Xi and Zuma said they would also monitor the implementation of projects in trade, investment, basic infrastructure, energy, communication, agriculture and human resources.