On 22 January 2025, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa held the 2025 Happy Chinese New Year Reception. Ambassador Wu Peng and South African Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams attended and delivered speeches. More than 600 people gathered at the event, including senior officials of the South African parties, government, military and police, friends from the industrial and business sector, think tanks, universities and the media, as well as representatives of Chinese-funded organisations and the Chinese community in South Africa.

In his speech, Ambassador Wu Peng extended his sincere new year wishes to the guests. He recalled the historic achievements in China's high-quality economic development, the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and China-South Africa relations over the past year under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core. Ambassador Wu thanked the Chinese community in South Africa for their contributions to promoting friendship between the two countries. He noted that in the concluding year of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, China looks forward to working with the South African side, to implement the key consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of FOCAC, and jointly build a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future.

In her speech, Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams extended her heartfelt wishes for a joyous and prosperous Chinese New Year. She expressed gratitude for the enduring friendship and cooperation that have shaped the shared journey between South Africa and China, and confidence that the solid collaboration will contribute to fostering inclusive, sustainable development, particularly for the Global South.

Ambassador Wu and the guests watched together the wonderful performances presented by the delegation from China’s Sichuan Province and South Africa’s National School of the Arts. The lively atmosphere and sustained applause reinforced the festivity of the two counties celebrating the Chinese New Year together.