Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks in Sapporo on Tuesday with his South African counterpart Thabo Mbeki on bilateral relations and the situation in Zimbabwe.

The two leaders are in Japan to attend outreach sessions of the ongoing Group of Eight (G8) summit.

China-South Africa relations have maintained the momentum for comprehensive and in-depth development in the past year, President Hu said at the meeting.

There has been further expansion in trade and investment, and fresh headways have been made in bilateral cooperation in areas such as culture, education, science and technology, and health and tourism, he noted.

The two sides have offered understanding and support for each other on major issues of respective concern and maintained close coordination in international affairs, he added.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and China is willing to join hands with South Africa to lift the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level, Hu said.

The Chinese president's remarks were echoed by South Africa's Thabo Mbeki, who said he will continue to push forward the bilateral strategic partnership and is looking forward to his visit to China.

On the issue of Zimbabwe, the South African leader said the fate of the country should be determined by the Zimbabwean people, and Article 7 of the UN Charter should not be cited to impose sanctions on the south-central African nation.