8月21日，在赴約翰內斯堡出席金磚國家領導人第十五次會晤并對南非進行國事訪問之際，國家主席習近平在南非《星報》、《開普時報》、《水星報》和南非獨立媒體網站發表題為《讓中南友好合作的巨輪揚帆遠航》的署名文章。文章全文如下：

A signed article by Chinese President Xi Jinping titled "Sailing the Giant Ship of China-South Africa Friendship and Cooperation Toward Greater Success" was published Monday on South African media as he is going to attend the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg and pay a state visit to South Africa.
An English version of the article, carried by The Star, Cape Times, The Mercury as well as Independent Online, is as follows:

讓中南友好合作的巨輪揚帆遠航

中華人民共和國主席　習近平

Sailing the Giant Ship of China-South Africa
Friendship and Cooperation Toward Greater Success
Xi Jinping
President of the People's Republic of China

應拉馬福薩總統邀請，我即將對南非共和國進行國事訪問并出席金磚國家領導人第十五次會晤。這是我第六次踏上“彩虹之國”的熱土。這里誕生過偉大的政治家曼德拉，擁有非洲最豐富的旅游資源、最長的公路網、最大的證券交易所、最繁忙的機場和港口。古老和現代、自然和人文的完美融合，賦予南非獨特的魅力。

At the invitation of President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, I will soon make a state visit to the Republic of South Africa and attend the 15th BRICS Summit. It will be my sixth visit to the promising land of the "rainbow nation". South Africa is home to the great statesman Nelson Mandela, and it boasts the richest tourist resources, the longest road network, the biggest securities exchange, and the busiest airports and harbors in Africa. The country exudes unique charm with the perfect amalgam of the ancient and the modern, and of nature and culture.

每次來到南非，我都有不同的感受，但印象最深的是兩國親如兄弟的友好情誼。我們的友誼跨越時間長河。早在上世紀中葉，中華人民共和國就堅定支持南非人民反對種族隔離的斗爭，同非洲人國民大會建立起同志友情。我們的友誼跨越山海阻隔。面對突如其來的新冠疫情，中方率先向南非提供抗疫物資，展現兄弟般的特殊情誼。近期，中方又向南非提供了緊急電力設備支持。建交25年來，中南關系實現從伙伴關系、戰略伙伴關系到全面戰略伙伴關系的跨越式發展，成為發展中國家最具活力的雙邊關系之一。中南關系已經步入“黃金時代”，前景光明，未來可期。

Each of my visits to South Africa gave me new impressions. But the deepest is invariably the brotherly sentiments we have toward each other. Our friendship has traversed a long span of time. As early as in the mid-20th century, the newly founded People's Republic of China lent firm support to the South African people in fighting apartheid, and stood with the African National Congress as comrades and friends. Our friendship has defied the obstacles of mountains and oceans. Facing the sudden onslaught of COVID-19, China was among the first to provide anti-pandemic supplies to South Africa, reaffirming our special brotherhood. More recently, China also provided to the country emergency power equipment. Over the past 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties, our relationship has achieved leapfrog development--from a partnership to a strategic partnership, and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership. It is one of the most vibrant bilateral relations in the developing world. Our relationship has entered a "golden era", enjoying broad prospects and a promising future.

近年來，我同拉馬福薩總統通過互訪、會晤、通話、函電等方式保持密切溝通，共話合作，共謀發展，共迎挑戰，戰略互信不斷加深。我們在涉及彼此核心利益和重大關切問題上堅定相互支持，在重大國際和地區問題上保持協作，踐行真正的多邊主義，推動國際秩序朝著更加公正合理的方向發展。

In recent years, President Ramaphosa and I have maintained close communication through visits, meetings, phone calls and letters. We jointly explore cooperation opportunities, pursue development, and stand up to common challenges. Our strategic mutual trust has been deepening steadily. We give each other firm support on issues involving our respective core interests and major concerns, and maintain coordination on major international and regional issues. We work together to practice true multilateralism and push for the building of a more just and equitable international order.

南非是第一個同中國簽署共建“一帶一路”合作文件的非洲國家，連續13年成為中國在非洲第一大貿易伙伴，是中國在非洲投資存量最多的國家之一。兩國合作的蛋糕越做越大，南非葡萄酒、如意博士茶、蘆薈膠成為中國的網紅商品。一大批中國企業在南非拓展業務、回饋社會，“南非制造”的中國品牌汽車和家電深受當地消費者喜愛，走進南非千家萬戶。南非企業也紛紛投資充滿商機的中國市場，為中國經濟發展作出積極貢獻。

South Africa was the first African country to sign the Belt and Road cooperation document with China. It has been China's biggest trading partner in Africa for 13 years in a row, as well as one of the African countries with the largest stock of Chinese investment. The pie of bilateral cooperation is getting bigger. South Africa's wines, rooibos tea, and aloe vera gels are trending products in China. Many Chinese companies are expanding their operation and at the same time taking more social responsibilities in South Africa. Automobiles and home appliances with Chinese brands yet made in South Africa are very popular among local consumers, and are now owned by numerous South African households. South African companies are also racing to invest in the Chinese market to seize the abundant business opportunities, and they have made important contribution to China's economic growth.

南非烏班圖思想倡導“仁愛、共享”，同中國儒家“仁民愛物、天下大同”理念不謀而合。我曾于2015年參加南非“中國年”活動，見證了中南互辦國家年的可喜成果。今年4月，德班理工大學孔子學院的師生用中文給我寫信，表達對中華文化的喜愛，感謝中國為非洲青年追求夢想提供寶貴機會，讓我感到十分親切。豐富多彩的人文交流有力促進民心相通，使兩國友好薪火相傳。

South Africa's Ubuntu philosophy advocates compassion and sharing. It resonates well with the values of Confucianism--"love the people and all beings and seek harmony among all nations". In 2015, I participated in the Year of China activities in South Africa, and witnessed the gratifying achievements of our Year of China/South Africa programs. Last April, the faculty and students of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology wrote me a letter in Chinese, expressing their fondness for the Chinese culture and thanking China for the valuable opportunities provided to young Africans chasing their dreams. I find it very heart-warming. Indeed, these vibrant people-to-people exchanges enhance the empathy between our peoples, and enable our friendship to be passed down from generation to generation.

站在新的歷史起點上，中南關系已經超越雙邊范疇，具有越來越重要的全球影響。我期待通過這次訪問，同拉馬福薩總統一道，擘畫中南全面戰略伙伴關系新篇章。

The China-South Africa relationship is standing at a new historical starting point. It has gone beyond the bilateral scope and carries increasingly important global influence. During my forthcoming visit, I look forward to working with President Ramaphosa to chart the plan for a new chapter of our comprehensive strategic partnership.

中南要做志同道合的同行者。“交得其道，千里同好；固于膠漆，堅于金石。”我們要加強治國理政經驗交流，堅定支持對方自主探索符合本國國情的現代化道路，不畏強權霸道，守望相助，推動中南關系在國際風云變幻中砥礪前行。

China and South Africa should be fellow companions sharing the same ideals. As an ancient Chinese saying goes, "A partnership forged with the right approach defies distance; it is thicker than glue and stronger than metal and rock." We need to increase our experience sharing on governance, and firmly support each other in independently exploring a path to modernization that suits our respective national conditions. We should fear no hegemony, and work with each other as real partners to push forward our relations amid the changing international landscape.

中南要做團結合作的引領者。經濟互補性強、合作基礎牢固是我們攜手共進的最大優勢。我們要加強發展戰略對接，做大做強基礎設施建設、數字經濟、科技創新、能源轉型等領域合作，讓發展成果更多惠及兩國人民。中方歡迎更多南非商品進入中國市場，鼓勵更多中國企業赴南非投資興業，支持南非未來5年吸引外資再翻番的計劃。

China and South Africa should be pacesetters for solidarity and cooperation. We will succeed because of our biggest strengths in high economic complementarity and the solid foundation for cooperation. We need to further synergize development strategies, promote stronger cooperation in infrastructure, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation and energy transition, and ensure that more people of our two countries will benefit from the development outcomes. China welcomes more South African products to its market, and encourages more Chinese companies to invest and do business in South Africa as an effort of support for South Africa's target to double its inbound investment over the next five-year period.

中南要做中非友好的傳承者。我們要發揮兩國人文交流全方位、多層次、機制化發展優勢，繼續推動文化、旅游、教育、體育、媒體、高校、地方、青年等領域交流合作，讓中非友好合作精神在中國和非洲的廣袤大地上進一步傳承和發揚。

China and South Africa should be inheritors of China-Africa friendship. We need to leverage the all-round, multi-tiered and institutionalized mechanisms for people-to-people exchanges between our two countries, and continue to advance exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, education, sports, media, universities, sub-national governments and the youth. We must keep the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation as alive and strong as ever across the vast lands of China and Africa.

中南要做共同利益的捍衛者。當今世界需要的是和平，不是沖突；渴望的是協作，不是對抗。中南作為“全球南方”天然成員，更要團結一致，共同呼吁擴大發展中國家在國際事務中的話語權和影響力，加快推動國際金融機構改革，共同反對單邊制裁和“小院高墻”，攜手維護我們的共同利益。

China and South Africa should be champions of our common interests. What the world needs today is peace, not conflict; what the world wants is coordination, not confrontation. China and South Africa, as natural members of the Global South, should all the more work together to appeal for greater voice and influence of developing countries in international affairs, promote accelerated reform of international financial institutions, and oppose unilateral sanctions and the "small yard, high fence" approach. We should jointly safeguard our common interests.

我這次來到南非的另一項重要議程是出席金磚國家領導人會晤，這是金磚峰會第三次走進非洲這片充滿活力和希望的大陸。我清晰地記得，在風光旖旎的海南三亞，南非首次以正式成員身份參加金磚大家庭聚會。12年來，南非為金磚合作機制發展作出重要貢獻，推動金磚合作成色更足、影響更大。現在，越來越多的國家希望叩開“金磚之門”、參與金磚合作，充分展現金磚合作機制的強大生命力和影響力。中方愿同金磚伙伴一道，秉持開放包容、合作共贏的金磚精神，凝聚在重大問題上的共識，發揚獨立自主的外交傳統，堅定捍衛國際公平正義，推動國際社會重新聚焦發展問題，引領金磚合作機制在全球治理體系中發揮更加重要的作用，發出更加響亮的金磚之聲。

The BRICS Summit is another important agenda during my visit to South Africa. This is the third time for the Summit to take place on this continent brimming with vibrancy and hope. I still have vivid memories of the Summit in the picturesque Sanya, China's Hainan Province, when South Africa made the formal debut as a member of the BRICS family. Over the past 12 years, South Africa has made important contributions to the development of BRICS cooperation mechanism, further substantiating BRICS cooperation and extending its influence. Now more and more countries are knocking on the door of BRICS, aspiring to join our cooperation. This is a testament to the vitality and influence of the BRICS cooperation mechanism. China is ready to work with fellow BRICS partners to act on the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation, build consensus on important issues, carry forward our tradition of independent diplomacy, and resolutely uphold international equity and justice. We will urge the international community to refocus on development issues, promote a greater role by the BRICS cooperation mechanism in global governance, and make the voice of BRICS stronger.

今年是我提出真實親誠對非政策理念10周年。10年來，中非雙方在構建新時代中非命運共同體的道路上攜手同行，非洲疾控中心、塞內加爾方久尼大橋、肯尼亞機場快速路、蒙內鐵路等一大批項目竣工移交，中非友好的聲音回蕩在中非廣袤大地和山水之間。

It has been ten years since I put forth "sincerity, real results, amity and good faith" as the principles for China to develop its relations with Africa. The past decade has witnessed our joint pursuit of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, and the completion and handover of a host of projects including the Africa CDC Headquarters, the Foundiougne Bridge in Senegal, the Nairobi Expressway and the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, renewing China-Africa friendship across the vast lands of China and Africa.

面對百年變局，中非關系行得穩、中非合作搞得好，全球發展就有更多新動能，世界就有更多穩定性。這是28億中非人民肩負的國際責任和歷史使命。我們將舉辦中非領導人對話會。我愿同非洲領導人一道，推動更多積極、有效、可持續的發展舉措在非洲落地，拓展在農業、制造業、新能源、數字經濟等領域合作，助力非洲實現經濟一體化、工業化和農業現代化。中方將繼續推動非盟加入二十國集團在今年取得實質性進展，期待非洲國家和非盟在國際和地區事務中發揮更大作用。

In face of the profound changes unseen in a century, a strong China-Africa relationship and productive China-Africa cooperation will provide more fresh impetus to global development and ensure greater stability of the world. This is an international responsibility and historical mission entrusted to the 2.8 billion Chinese and African peoples. We will convene a China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue. I will work with African leaders to bring more active, effective and sustainable development initiatives to Africa, expand cooperation in agriculture, manufacturing, new energy and digital economy, and facilitate Africa's economic integration, industrialization and agricultural modernization. China will continue to work for substantive progress in African Union's joining of the G20 this year, and looks forward to a greater role by African countries and the AU in international and regional affairs.

“潮平兩岸闊，風正一帆懸。”展望中南關系下一個25年，雙方友好合作的巨輪將揚帆遠航，構建新時代中非命運共同體和人類命運共同體的事業必將取得更大成就。

As an ancient Chinese poem goes, "With high tide and tailwind, it is time to sail a smooth ride." Looking ahead into the next 25 years, the giant ship of China-South Africa friendship and cooperation will sail forward, and we will make even greater progress in the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era as well as the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.