(YU NAN)

China and South Africa agree on a dozen cooperation agreements to further strengthen and broaden economic interaction at the China-South Africa Business Forum held in Beijing on Tuesday.

The agreements, mainly including cooperation on mineral resources, transportation, and finance, were signed at the forum with visiting South African President Jacob Zuma attended.

Zuma is on a state visit to China and his visit is seen as an opportunity for the two countries to explore ways of expanding their current trade ties.

Zuma spoke at the forum that South Africa welcomed Chinese investors as the two sides will further strengthen and expand cooperation in the areas such as infrastructure projects, manufactures, green economy, and information communications.

Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng, stressed that the two countries will deepen cooperation in energy and resources areas.

"China will encourage companies to import more high value-added products from South Africa, and exert more effort on Sino-South African joint business in mineral processing areas," Gao said

Rob Davies, Minister of South Africa Trade and Industry Ministry, said South Africa was trying to create a more favorable investment environment to facilitate practical cooperation between South Africa and China.

China became South Africa's largest export destination by country in 2009. By the end of June this year, the bilateral trade between the two countries had exceeded $10.8 billion, up 56.1 percent year on year. The trade statistics continue to show the potential for expanding the commercial relationship.

Zuma was accompanied by a 300-strong business delegation, the largest of its kind on a foreign tour since he took office in 2009. The visit is the last leg of his tour of the BRIC countries - Brazil, Russia, India and China.