Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with visiting South African Vice President Jacob Zuma at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sept. 28, 2004.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that both China and South Africa should earnestly push forward cooperation in various fields and upgrade the Sino-South African relations to a higher level.

While meeting with visiting South African Vice President Jacob Zuma, Hu said that cooperation between China and South Africa, both influential developing countries, is significant to world peace and common prosperity.

China and South Africa need to continue their good experience in developing bilateral relations and substantiate the bilateral strategic partnership, Hu said.

Since the 1950s, Hu said, the Chinese government and the Chinese people have firmly advocated the just cause of the South African people in fighting against apartheid and realizing national liberation.

After they established diplomatic relations in 1998, Hu said, China and South Africa carried out effective cooperation in various areas. South Africa is now the biggest trade partner of China in Africa. The strategic partnership between the two countries has a bright future.

Zuma relayed regards from South African President Thabo Mbeki and former President Nelson Mandela to President Hu. Zuma also expressed his congratulations for Hu on his assuming the post of chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.

Zuma spoke high of the traditional friendship between South Africa and China as well as Africa and China.

He praised China for its policy of consultation and cooperation with other developing countries in many international mechanisms.

He said he admires China's economic and social miracles achieved in recent years, adding that South Africa could learn much from the Chinese experience.

He said his country is willing to strengthen friendly cooperation with China in an overall way.

China will work with South Africa to promote bilateral relations, said China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday at separate meetings with Zuma.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said the NPC will enhance exchanges and cooperation with the National Assembly and National Council of the Provinces of South Africa.

He said China and South Africa have enjoyed fast, comprehensive development of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than six years ago. The two sides have formed a strategic partnership of equality, mutual benefit and common development.

Cooperation has been fruitful in the fields of politics, trade, economy, culture, education and technology, Wu said, adding that the NPC and the National Assembly of South Africa have set up sound cooperative relations and played an important role in promoting bilateral friendly cooperation.

Zuma said China's development experience sets a good example for other developing countries. His current visit aims to exchange experience of economic development with Chinese leaders, and learn from each other.

The development of South Africa-China relations is not only in the interests of the two peoples, but also conducive to south-south cooperation, he said.

Premier Wen said China attaches great importance to its relations with South Africa.

Wen said recently, South Africa recognized China's market economy status, and China and the Southern African Customs Union announced the start of free trade negotiations.

The two sides should seize the opportunity to promote trade and economic cooperation, Wen said.

Zuma expressed appreciation for the support of the Chinese government and people for South African's efforts to seek freedom and develop its economy.

He said the South African government and people treasure the existing friendship and are committed to consolidating and developing relations.

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong (L) shakes hands with visiting South African Vice President Jacob Zuma at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Sept. 28, 2004.

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong said China and South Africa need to upgrade cooperation between the two countries in his meeting with Zuma.

Zeng said the two sides should comprehensively increase their political trust with each other and further increase their consultation and cooperation in international affairs, which help to shape and constantly enrich the strategic partnership between the two.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations six years ago, Zeng recalled, the relationship between China and South Africa has developed steadily.

At the second meeting of the bilateral committee, jointly presided over by Zeng and Zuma, the two sides specified that they are cultivating a strategic partnership toward equality, mutual benefit and common prosperity, Zeng acknowledged.

Both are resolved to make progress in trade and economic cooperation, education exchange, human resources development, consultation and cooperation on international and regional affairs, Zeng said.

Zeng spoke highly of domestic construction in South Africa and praised it for pushing forward the cause of peace and development in Africa.

Zuma sent his congratulations for the coming 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He said he admires the remarkable achievements made by the Chinese people in their reform, opening-up and economic development over recent decades.

He said he thanked China for its continued support of peace and development in Africa and that his China visit will be conducive to a better relationship between South Africa and China.