NEW DELHI, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with South African Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni in New Delhi on Monday.

Photo: Chinese Foreign Ministry

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, said that China and South Africa, as representatives of emerging economies and founding members of BRICS, have always firmly upheld multilateralism, advocated greater democracy in international relations, maintained close high-level exchanges, and deepened practical cooperation in various fields, setting an example of solidarity and cooperation among the Global South.

At present, unilateralism and the law of the jungle are harming the legitimate rights and interests of all countries and undermining the norms governing international relations, Wang said.

As the backbone of the Global South, BRICS countries need to strengthen solidarity and coordination, jointly make BRICS an even brighter golden brand of unity and self-reliance among developing countries, work together to defend international fairness and justice, and maintain world peace and stability, he said.

Noting that China is a trustworthy friend and partner of South Africa and Africa, Wang said China-South Africa relations have maintained a sound momentum of steady development, adding that the two sides should implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, adhere to mutual respect and win-win cooperation, and continuously improve exchange mechanisms at all levels.

The two sides should consolidate and deepen strategic mutual trust, jointly expand the pie of cooperation, and make full use of the policy dividends brought by zero-tariff policy and the "green channel 2.0 " for African agricultural and food products entering the Chinese market, so as to inject strong impetus into the joint efforts of China and South Africa, as well as China and Africa, to advance modernization, Wang said.

Ntshavheni, for her part, said South Africa attaches great importance to developing relations with China and has always regarded China as a reliable friend.

South Africa thanks China for its long-term support and assistance to South Africa and Africa, especially the benefits brought by China's zero-tariff policy to people in African countries, Ntshavheni said.

South Africa looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchanges with China, strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, cybersecurity and infrastructure, and pushing South Africa-China and Africa-China relations to a new level, she said.

Ntshavheni said South Africa firmly adheres to the one-China policy and is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on multilateral platforms such as BRICS, jointly safeguard the rights and interests of developing countries, revitalize multilateral mechanisms, and advance the process of world multipolarity.