China will work with African countries to make a China-Africa summit late this year a successful event, President Xi Jinping said on Friday while meeting with visiting South African President Jacob Zuma.

The two countries announced that the sixth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be upgraded to a summit and is scheduled for Dec 4 and 5 in South Africa.

The forum, held every three years since 2000, was upgraded to a summit once before, in 2006 in Beijing, and drew participants from 48 countries.

State leaders of China and South Africa will invite African heads of state to the summit this year, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his South African counterpart, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, announced on Thursday.

Xi told Zuma that China-South Africa relations are in a period of opportunity, and that the "Year of China" events this year in South Africa have enhanced mutual understanding and friendship.

The two countries should strengthen coordination and implementation of cooperation plans to produce more beneficial results, Xi said, adding that the two countries should work closely to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Zuma's attendance at China's V-Day celebrations on Thursday showed the South African government's and Zuma's commitment to world peace and justice, and also highlighted China-South Africa ties, Xi said.

Zuma said that China had suffered great losses in the World Anti-Fascist War and made great contributions to the victory in the war.

The V-Day commemorations fully demonstrated China's resolution in safeguarding world peace and stability, he added.

South Africa highly values its friendship with China and is trying to achieve results in planned cooperation deals, he said, adding that South Africa will also work hard to host a successful summit.

Chinese trade and investment have played an important role in the development of the African economy, and the ties between China and African countries are expected to be enhanced by the summit, said Zheng Yuewen, chairman of the China-Africa Business Council.

Africa has rich natural and human resources, and China has advantages in capital, technology and infrastructure construction capability, creating many opportunities for cooperation, he said.

On Friday, President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang also met with Myanmar President Thein Sein, who also attended China's V-Day commemorations on Thursday.

Xi expressed gratitude for Myanmar's support of China's Belt and Road Initiative, a reference to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives for transportation and infrastructure projects linking Asia and Europe that were launched by Xi in 2013.

Xi said that China is willing to work with Myanmar to push forward the implementation of such projects.

Li said that China would like to enhance cooperation in infrastructure construction with Myanmar and implement initiatives like the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor.

The Myanmar president expressed gratitude for China's help after the country's flooding disaster, and he said that Myanmar is willing to work with China on infrastructure construction and connection of the two countries' roadways and waterways, as well as education and youth exchanges.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 09/07/2015 page5)