On March 23, 2018 local time, President Xi Jinping's Special Representative and Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Yang Jiechi met with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa in Cape Town.

Yang Jiechi conveyed President Xi Jinping's greetings and best wishes to Cyril Ramaphosa, saying that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership and has designated him as Special Representative to visit South Africa. The two heads of state of China and South Africa have maintained close exchanges and strengthened strategic communication, playing an important leading role in the development of bilateral relations. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 20 years ago, with the joint efforts of both sides, China-South Africa relations have achieved leapfrog development. At present, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era and the national development of South Africa has also entered a new phase. China is willing to, together with South Africa, increase high-level exchanges, cement political mutual trust, and deepen practical cooperation so as to constantly push bilateral relations for new and greater development. The Chinese side wishes that under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, the cause of national construction of South Africa will make new achievements.

Yang Jiechi expressed that this year, the two heads of state of China and South Africa will co-chair the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing and South Africa will host the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. These are the two grand events on the diplomatic agenda of the two countries. The two sides should support each other to ensure the success of the events so as to promote the China-Africa cooperation and the BRICS cooperation for new development.

Cyril Ramaphosa asked Yang Jiechi to convey his warm congratulations to President Xi Jinping on his election as President of China, and looked forward to meeting with President Xi Jinping at an early date. Cyril Ramaphosa stated that South Africa and China have enjoyed a time-honored and long-standing friendship and rapid development in cooperation. The relations of the two countries are full of both historic significance and strategic connotation. South Africa is willing to take the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to strengthen the docking of development strategies and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China. South Africa is ready to actively take part in the first China International Import Expo and welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in the investment conference and the summit on employment to be held by South Africa. The two sides should make joint efforts and support each other in well holding the BRICS Summit and the FOCAC Summit, in a bid to elevate South Africa-China comprehensive strategic partnership to new highs.

On the same day, Yang Jiechi also met with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Lindiwe Sisulu of South Africa.