Pacts testify to maturity of ties, growth

BRI, trade, innovation among key tangible achievements of state visit

A long list of outcomes and a detailed joint statement issued during President Xi Jinping's state visit to South Africa are convincing evidence of how far the two major emerging economies can go in boosting common prosperity and beyond, officials and experts said.

They made the observation as Xi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held talks and witnessed the signing of cooperative documents on Tuesday in Pretoria, South Africa.

Ramaphosa also awarded Xi the Order of South Africa, the highest decoration and highest honor that South Africa awards important and friendly heads of state.

According to the list of outcomes achieved during the state visit as released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, the two sides signed or agreed on a total of 25 cooperative documents.

The documents cover areas such as the Belt and Road Initiative, new energy and electricity, agricultural products, special economic zones and industrial parks, blue economy, science and technology innovation, and higher education.

The signatories of these documents ranged from the government departments of the two countries, to state-owned energy enterprises, news media, banks and universities.

In the joint statement, the two countries said they will work together to "actively build a quality China-South Africa community".