JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 4 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed here Friday that his country and Africa lift their relationship to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and join hands to open a new era of win-win cooperation and common development.

Delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xi stressed that China will adhere to the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and strike a right balance between upholding principles and pursuing benefits in its Africa policy.

The Chinese president, who is co-chairing the landmark leaders' meeting with his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, suggested that the world's largest developing country and the continent that is home to the largest number of developing countries further promote their relations on five pillars.

In politics, the two sides should stick to equality and mutual trust, said Xi, stressing that China always maintains that Africa is the African people's Africa and African affairs should be decided by the African people.

In the economic realm, they need to pursue win-win cooperation, he added, suggesting that the two sides give full play to the advantages of mutual trust and economic complementarity and expand cooperation in an all-round way.

Meanwhile, China and Africa, which both boast a long and splendid civilization, should learn from each other in culture, and particularly focus on boosting people-to-people exchanges between their youths, women, think tanks, media organizations and universities, Xi said.

Also, the two sides need to close ranks and help each other on security, said the president, stressing that Beijing supports Africa resolving African problems in African ways and stands ready to help Africa enhance its capacity in safeguarding peace and security.

In addition, Xi called upon the two sides to cement unity and coordination on international affairs and jointly defend their common interests, saying China will continue to support Africa in playing a bigger role on the world stage.

Established in 2000 to promote China-Africa friendship and cooperation, the FOCAC groups China, 50 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China, and the Commission of the African Union. Its last summit took place in 2006 in Beijing.