Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L, front) and South African President Jacob Zuma (1st L, front) visit China-Africa equipment manufacturing industry exhibition in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 4, 2015. Xi, Zuma and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition here on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

President says joint development of economy is in line with the interests of both parties

China's cooperation with Africa has been a "rare historic opportunity", President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

Xi made the remarks at a working breakfast he hosted for African leaders attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Johannesburg Summit.

The president said the joint development of China and Africa is in line with the interests on both sides. "It is also our joint mission."

He said that at the moment China and Africa need each other and each has distinct advantages. "We have ushered in a rare historic opportunity."

He briefed the African leaders about China's economic situation and the target of future development, adding that China will make a greater contribution to Africa's development.

The African leaders appreciated China's assistance to the continent's economy and people's livelihood, adding they expect closer cooperation with Beijing in Africa's industrialization and agricultural modernization.

They said China's "Belt and Road" initiative is equally important to the continent, and that African countries welcome China to participate in infrastructure construction including railways, highway and ports.

They also expect China to divert high-quality production capacity to Africa.

Li Anshan, director of the Center of African Studies at Peking University, said that as China redirects its economy to a green one, "a new blueprint of China-Africa cooperation has emerged".

He said that as China's labor costs rise and abundant production capacity accumulates, labor-intensive companies are exploring abroad.

Africa can use this opportunity to develop labor-intensive industries to raise production capacity and create job opportunities.

"In the next 10 years, China is expected to double its economic growth. That would be the next stage of the China Wave and that would change the world. Africa has to take advantage of that," said Garth Shelton, a lecturer at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Shelton made the remarks on Thursday in Pretoria, South Africa, when launching a book, FOCAC 2015: A new beginning of China-Africa Relations, which analyses the relationship between China and Africa in great detail.

Xinhua contributed to this story.