South African and Chinese police leaders have signed a police cooperation agreement in keeping with efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, local media said on Saturday.

South African Police Deputy Minister Fikile Mbalula, who signed the document with his Chinese counterpart Chen Zhimin on Friday, unveiled the cooperation before going into a closed meeting with Chen.

"We are going to have very important discussions about public safety and security in the two countries. This is as relations between South African and China are evolving," Mbalula told reporters.

Chen said the minutes of the talks include the exchange of high level officials and experts and measures to promote friendly communication between the countries' law enforcement authorities.

"Both countries shall take within their own territory such measures as may be practical and feasible to ensure that institutions and persons from each country enjoy safety and security to the same extent as the inhabitants of the their respective countries," said the Chinese official.

The two sides issued a statement outlining ways of consolidating and exchanging intelligence information on drug trafficking, illegal immigration, money laundering, arms smuggling and trafficking of women and children.

"We believe through the talks we will be able to work closely within the framework of enhanced policing," said Mbalula.

"This will result in providing assistance in case investigations and handing over of criminal suspects subject to the laws relating to mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition."