President Jacob Zuma arrived on a working visit in Beijing, China on Wednesday, the presidency said.

"The visit to Beijing takes place within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership concluded between [the two countries] in August 2010," Zuma's spokesman Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

"Focac [Forum on China-Africa Co-operation] was established to charter the direction for the development of a new, stable and long-term partnership based on equality and mutual benefit between China and African countries."

Zuma was on the two-day visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, President Hu Jintao.

While in Beijing Zuma would attend the opening ceremony of the 5th Ministerial Focac meeting, said Maharaj.

Zuma would also be awarded an honorary professorship in international studies at Peking University in Beijing on Friday.