China, Africa need to translate advantages of friendship into advancement of cooperation: Xi

South African President Jacob Zuma, who also addressed the jubilant gathering, said that Africa and China have a unique strategic partnership and that the FOCAC summit is set to lift bilateral relations to a higher level.

Citing a Chinese proverb, he urged participating leaders to make a concerted endeavor to make a success of the event and consolidate the foundation for further deepening Africa-China cooperation in the future.

Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, greeted participating leaders and their spouses before the start of the banquet, which took place at the Sandton Convention Center.

Xi traveled to Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, earlier in the day after wrapping up his second state visit to the African country in Pretoria. His schedule here is also packed with a series of meetings with African leaders.

South Africa is the last leg of Xi's ongoing three-nation tour, which has taken him to Paris for the opening ceremony of a highly anticipated UN climate change conference and Zimbabwe for his first state visit to the all-weather friendly country.