Your Excellency Former President Kgalema Motlanthe and Madame Gugu Motlanthe,
Your Honorable Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,
Your Honorable Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education, and Professor Mathole Motshekga,
Your Honorable Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology,
Your Honorable Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Social Development,
Your Honorable Bheki Cele, Minister of Police,
Your Honorable Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism,
Your Honorable Senzo Mchunu, Minister of Water and Sanitation,
Your Honorable Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Minister of Electricity in the Presidency,
Your Honorable Sihle Zikalala, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure,
Comrade Nomvula Mokonyane, First Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress,
Comrade Gwen Ramokgopa, Treasurer-General of the African National Congress,
Comrade Solly Mapaila, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party,
Comrade Joyce Moloi-Moropa, National Treasurer of the South African Communist Party,
Comrade Madala Masuku, First Deputy Secretary General of the South African Communist Party,
Honorable Deputy Ministers, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Ambassador Salih Omar Abdu, Ambassadors, Generals, Director Generals and Deputy Director Generals,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends, My Fellow Chinese,
Good Afternoon!
Hello Mzansi! Sawubona!
I thank all our guests and friends for attending today’s farewell reception. It was on September 23, 2020 that my wife and I arrived here, as I assumed the post of the sixth Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa. It has been almost three and a half years of living and working in this beautiful country. And we completely fell in love with the Rainbow Nation’s charm and vitality.
My wife and I are amazed by the superb natural endowments. South Africa has the most pleasant climate andbreathtaking nature. You have the most stunning flower blossoms, the Big Five in the Kruger National Park,and the magnificent Drakensberg Mountain Range. You also have the “God’s Dining Table” that is the beautiful Table Mountain, as well as an “edge of the world” that is the Cape of Good Hope. We are mesmerized by every single one of these beautiful attractions.
We are fascinated by the rich and diverse cultures. Millions of years ago, human ancestors flourished in the Cradle of Humankind in Gauteng. Today, people of different nationalities and skin colors live here in harmony, and communicate with each other in 12 official languages. We had the honor of enjoying the charm of traditional Zulu dance performances and the Venda drums, and for quite a few times, we celebrated the Chinese New Year with South African friends. We fell in love with South Africa’s cuisines, such as your remarkable wines, refreshing rooibos tea, and the very special and delicious Braai.
We were deeply touched by the friendly, kind and hospitable South African people, made many South African friends and we always feel the warmth and friendship straight from their hearts. “你好！”“朋友！”We often met local friends who greetedus in very good Chinese. I also remember when I visited the Kgomo Kgomo village in Northwest, the lovely children theresaid“I love China” with big smiles.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends,
Over the past more than three years, I had the honor to work with South African friends from all communities to further advance China-South Africa relations. I experienced first-hand the Comrades plus Brothers profound friendship between our two countries.
What I am most proud of is how the China-South Africa political and party-to-party relations have reached new heights. President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa maintained close communication and gave strong guidance and support to the development of our relations. I will never forget that in August last year, when President Xi Jinping paid his fourth state visit to South Africa and attended the 15th BRICS Summit, President Ramaphosa and the South African government accorded President Xi Jinping the highest level of protocol and the most prestigious reception. The state visit opened up the Golden Era in China-South Africa relations. It is the beginning of a new journey to build a high-level China-South Africa community with a shared future. The CPC, the ANC and the SACP enjoy ever deeper friendly exchanges and cooperation, which provides an important political foundation for our bilateral relations.
What I am most delighted about is how the cake of China-South Africa win-win cooperation is growing ever bigger. Under the framework of Belt and Road cooperation and our two countries’10 Years Strategic Program on Cooperation, wekept expanding and deepening practical cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, infrastructure, 5G, new energy, tourism and other fields. China has been South Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 years in a row, and South Africa participated in the China International Import Expo for 6 years straight. South African products such as beef, citruses, wines, oysters, and rooibos tea are all very popular among Chinese consumers.China actively took part in South Africa’s Investment Conferences, organized a Chinese-invested Enterprises’ Job Fair for the South African people, and held a China-South Africa New Energy Investment and Cooperation Conference. We also provided various assistance to South Africa, including emergency electricity equipment.
What I am most touched by is the enduring friendship between our two peoples. I arrived at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic was raging around the world. During that time, China and South Africa stood by each other, joined hands to fight the virus, and together championed holding the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19. That was another touching chapter of our two countries working together to address difficulties of the times. Last year, our two countries jointly celebrated the 25th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. We successfully held the third meeting of the High-Level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism.The Chinese language and culture have become increasingly popular in South Africa. The 7th Confucius Institute in South Africa has been unveiled at the Venda University.
What I am most excited to see is the ever-closer strategic collaboration between China and South Africa.Our two countries constantly strengthencoordination and cooperation in international affairs. We jointly practicetrue multilateralism and safeguard the common interests of developing countries. Together, we contributed to the great success of the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg last year and worked to see the historic expansion of BRICS membership. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will hold its next meeting in Beijing later this year, whichwill elevate China-South Africa and China-Africa cooperation to a new level.
The key reason for China-South Africa relations’ great achievements is that we enjoy the strong personal guidance, support and promotion by President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa.It is because our two sides always stick to the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, equality and win-win cooperation. We also cannot make these achievements without the strong support and wide participation of our South African friends from all communities here today.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends,
As I am about to leave my post, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to the South African government, the parliament, the ANC, the SACP, as well as the officials and colleagues of various departments, my DIRCO brothers and sisters in particular. Your strong support is what made it possible for the Embassy and me to deliver, and for China-South Africa relations to make new progress.
I thank friends from all communities in South Africa, including business, education, culture, tourism, science, technology and think tanks. Your active participation is an important driving force for the further expansion and deepening of China-South Africa exchanges and cooperation in various fields.
I thank our friends from the media.It is your active and hard work that makes the world know more about the strong friendship between China and South Africa.
I thank my fellow Ambassadors in South Africa. It has been a great honor to meet and be friends with you here. I am sure that our paths will cross again in the future.
I thank my fellow Chinese in South Africa, including the personnel of Chinese enterprises, institutions and all Chinese students. You are important bridges and bondsthat promote China-South Africa friendship and cooperation. I am confident that you will make more contributions to the friendly exchanges between the two countries.
I thank all my colleagues at the Chinese Embassy and Consulates General in South Africa. I am very proudand gratified about your service to our motherland, dedication to our ideals, and devotion to our mission.
Lastly and most importantly, I would like to thank my dear wife, Madam Zhang Bin. Thank you for your understanding, support and company along the way.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Comrades and Friends,
As President Nelson Mandela once observed, together we can achieve greater things.I strongly believe that as China and South Africa continue to move forward hand in hand, the future of our two countries and our relations will be more brilliant.
My wife and I will be leaving South Africa soon, but we will certainly continue to care about South Africa and regard South Africa as our second home. On my new post, I will continue to make myhumble contribution to China-South Africa relations. I am confident that all our friends will support my successor as much as you have supported me.
Now, please allow me and my wife to propose a toast, let us raise our glasses:
To the prosperity of China and South Africa!
To the ever-flourishing China-South Africa relations!
To the ever-lasting friendship between our two peoples!
To the good health and greater success in all endeavors for all our friends here today! Cheers!
I thank you! Sharp Sharp! Enkosi!