The announcement was made by visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his South African counterpart Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma at a press conference shortly after talks in Pretoria.

South Africa marked the first stop in Yang's four-nation tour to Africa, where China foreign ministry officials have traditionally started the year in a sign of the growing importance they place on the continent.

Yang will also visit the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi and Ethiopia.

South African President Thabo Mbeki met the Chinese foreign minister in his presidential residence on Monday.

Mbeki told Yang that relations between South Africa and China are important not only to South Africa, but also to Africa as a whole. South Africa cherishes traditional friendship with China and will firmly continue to pursue the one-China policy.

The strategic dialogue, which is aimed at high-level talks focusing on long-term strategic issues on political, economic and trade fronts, comes as the two countries celebrate 10 years of diplomatic ties.

"It would allow us, once a year, to discuss a whole range of political issues in depth, not just superficially, but in depth," said South African Foreign Minister Zuma.

She hosted Yang in Pretoria for the two-day official visit - his first trip to Africa since being appointed as foreign minister last year.

"This is indeed a relationship of great importance," Yang told a press conference.