The year 2023 marks the 25th Anniversary of the official partnership between South Africa and the People's Republic of China. It all started in 1998 with the signing of a diplomatic agreement between the two nations. This great event coincides this year with the arrival of the new Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Cape Town, His Excellency Mr You Wenze. The official reception took place at the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Cape Town, located at Rhodes Avenue in Newlands, Cape Town.
In his opening remarks, the Consul General took this opportunity to greet the distinguished guests who had come in large numbers this Thursday 9 March not only to pay him their courtesies but also to celebrate together this quarter of a century of fruitful bilateral cooperation. Guests included the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Hon. Lechesa Tsenoli, the Western Cape MEC of Community Safety, Mr. Reagen Allen, the Cape Town Deputy Mayor, Mr. Eddie Andrews. We could also note the large presence of the Chinese business community in Cape Town as well as representatives of higher education institutions, including the University of Cape Town, the University of the Western Cape, and the University of Stellenbsosch. Rhodes University was represented by Prof. Patrice Mwepu and Prof. Liu Dexue, both directors of the Confucius Institute at Rhodes.
In his address, the Consul General of the People's Republic of China in Cape Town praised the harmony that reigns between the two countries over the past 25 years, as well as all the progress made in the economic sector. “This partnership sees South Africa become a privileged partner of China whose economic investments rank first for this country; this cooperation, which covers other areas of development, including education, should continue for the benefit of these two countries”, he concluded. As for the representatives of South Africa who took the floor, they all praised the good relations between the two countries, while promising that everything should be put in place for the continuity of these relations.
Asked about the event, Prof Mwepu said that the People's Republic of China contributes enormously in the field of education in South Africa; “there is tremendous support for this, and our students have benefited from it for some time; I am happy to see that the partnerships between South African and Chinese universities are doing well”, he said.
On his part, Prof Liu said: “Over the past 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-South Africa relations have developed rapidly and continuously upgraded. With the increasingly close economic cooperation and cultural exchanges, the Confucius Institutes came into being in South Africa and made great progress. I believe that the relations between the two countries and the Confucius Institutes in South Africa will surely usher in a better tomorrow”.
Happy 25th Anniversary, South Africa and the People’s Republic of China!
