China and South Africa on Monday stressed joint efforts to cement their strategic partnership.

The pledge was made between China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin and Mninwa Mahlangu, the chairman of the National Council of Provinces of South Africa at Cape Town.

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Mninwa Mahlangu, chairman of the South African National Council of Provinces, in Cape Town of South Africa, March 29, 2010. [Li Tao/Xinhua]

"China-South Africa strategic partnership has made new progress in recent years, "said Jia, the chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body.

China and South Africa, which forged the strategic partnership on equality, mutual benefit and common development in 2007, have witnessed frequent high-level visits and developed deeper political trust, Jia said.

Mahlangu welcomed Jia's visit and reviewed the progress in bilateral cooperation since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1998.

China has become South Africa's biggest trade partner and exporter as bilateral trade volume hit a historic high of more than 16 billion U.S. dollars in 2009 despite the international financial crisis, according to the Chinese Customs.