On January 28, 2022, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa held a grand virtual celebration of “Happy Chinese New Year”. Chinese and South African friends from various social sectors gathered online to celebrate the Spring Festival of the Chinese Lunar Year of Tiger and embrace the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Chen Xiaodong attended and addressed the event. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa extended his first-ever Chinese New Year greetings to the Chinese community in South Africa and around the world via video message. South African Minister Mthethwa of Sport, Arts and Culture delivered a video speech. Nearly 1,000 representatives from the South African government, political parties, military, business, think tank, media, as well as Chinese institutions, Chinese compatriots and students in South Africa joined the celebration. The live-streaming of the event was viewed by more than 150,000 people in China and South Africa.
Ambassador Chen Xiaodong started his remarks by extending festive greetings and best wishes for the Chinese New Year. He said that the year 2021 is a landmark year in the history of the Communist Party of China and our country. Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, we celebrated the CPC’s centenary, achieved on schedule the goal of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, won the battle against poverty, and achieved our first centenary goal. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee comprehensively summarized the major achievements and historical experience of the Party's century-long struggle, and sent out a loud call for a new journey and a new era of success.
Ambassador Chen noted that in 2021, under the personal guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Ramaphosa, China and South Africa together celebrated the CPC’s centenary. The leaders of our two countries interacted frequently and deepened mutual political trust. Bilateral practical cooperation was also steadily advanced. The comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries continues to develop. In the new year, China and South Africa will follow the important common understandings between our heads of state. As we deliver the outcome of the FOCAC meeting, we will continue to deepen mutual trust, promote cooperation, pursue high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, jointly safeguard multilateralism and international justice, and promote the building of a China-South Africa and China-Africa community with a shared future. The two sides will jointly witness major moments of the 20th CPC National Congress and the 55th ANC National Conference, and continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation between our governing parties in order to better deliver for our two countries and peoples.
Ambassador Chen said that the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are to open soon. Under the guidance of President Xi Jinping's approach of a green, inclusive, open and clean Olympics, preparations for the Winter Games and COVID response are moving forward smoothly. An extraordinary and outstanding Winter Olympics that is both green and tech-savvy will be presented to the world. Athletes from all countries will unleash the speed and passion of winters on this stage, and demonstrate the strength from solidarity and friendship for the world. We sincerely thank SASCOC and friends from all walks of life here for the strong support for the Beijing Winter Olympics. We are ready to work together with our friends from all over the world, including South Africa, towards the goal of “faster higher stronger, together”, to join hands as we welcome the Winter Olympics and usher in our joint future.
In conclusion, Ambassador Chen called on people to bring out the vigor, vitality and strength of a tiger in the Year of the Tiger, so that we all can have stronger energy and new progress in our work, national development and China-South Africa relations.
President Ramaphosa, for the first time, sent his Chinese New Year greetings via video message to the Chinese community in South Africa and around the world. He wished everyone well as people usher in the Chinese year of the tiger, an animal that symbolizes strength, bravery and independence. He said that as we recover and rebuild in the wake of COVID 19, it is our wish that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa will lead to mutual economic growth, development and common prosperity, prosperity for ourselves, for our respective regions, and for the rest of the world. In the year ahead, our focus will be ending the pandemic, alleviating poverty, reducing inequality and creating more jobs. He said that South Africa is grateful to the People's Republic of China for its support throughout the pandemic, and particularly for working to ensure that Africa has greater access to COVID-19 vaccines. The global recovery depends on everyone being vaccinated. We are only safe when everyone is safe. No country and no community must be left behind. There is a wise African proverb that says “if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go further, go together.”May the friendship between South Africa and the People's Republic of China endure and may we face this new year with courage, strength and hope.
Minister Mthethwa extended warm festive greetings to the Chinese people in his speech. He said that the two countries share common interest in a number of ways, notably the promotion of people-to-people exchange mechanism, economic development through trade and investment, as well as cultural exchange programs. He believes that the year 2022 will bring more opportunities for both countries as we continue to work together towards one common objectives of strengthening our relations in many areas as we aspire. As the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics is already at our doorstep, he hopes that this important event will continue to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries. He wishes everyone a happy spring festival, and a very successful Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
The online event was divided into three chapters: “Celebrating the Spring Festival Together”, “Embracing the Winter Olympics” and “Wishing for Good luck”. Participants reviewed the highlights and achievements of China-South Africa exchanges in 2021, and enjoyed wonderful cultural performances.
In the chapter “Celebrating the Spring Festival Together”, African people in China shared how they celebrate the Spring Festival in the country; South African students told stories about their experience in China, and performed the signature Zulu dance. Chinese nationals in South Africa staged classic Chinese folk songs and dances. Female diplomats from the Chinese Embassy in South Africa presented jazz dance “Get Lucky” with great enthusiasm.
In the chapter “Embracing the Winter Olympics”, the participants took on a virtual trip to Beijing, the first “Dual Olympic City”in the world. The President of the SASCOC, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, and South African influencers have all sent best wishes via video messages. The South African Students Congress(SASCO) sang the Beijing Olympic theme song in Zulu language, creating a warm and joyous atmosphere for the Winter Olympics.
In the chapter of “Wishing for Good luck”, Chinese consuls general in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg, as well as Chinese compatriots, representatives of Chinese enterprises, teachers and students from Confucius Institutes in South China send New Year greetings via video message, conveying strong sentiment toward the motherland, and bringing the festive atmosphere to a climax.
The "Happy Chinese New Year" celebration was filled with wonderful activities, and was brimming with joy and jubilation. The Chinese Embassy's YouTube channel, Ambassador’s Twitter account, the Embassy's Facebook account and Wechat account received nearly 10,000 likes and comments within a few hours. Chinese and South African people from all walks of life have left messages saying that “the South African people and the Chinese people are heart-in-heart, and ‘Happy Chinese New Year’ has become an annual grand gathering for the two peoples”, “We are eagerly looking forward to the Beijing Olympics to feast our eyes on the most stunning performances on the ice and snow”, “The endeared motherland is always close to our hearts, even though we are thousands of miles away, and even behind the screen, we can feel the warmth and happiness on this occasion of family reunion”, “The year 2021 is an extraordinary year! I am filled with emotion when listening to Ambassador Chen Xiaodong reviewing the extraordinary course of the past year! Long live the great Chinese nation! Long live the great People of South Africa!”“I wish the Chinese people a happy New Year and ever-lasting South-China friendship!”
Journalists from more than 30 South African and Chinese mainstream media, including SABC, eNCA, NewsroomAfrika, TV BRICS, channels TV, Radio 702, PowerFM, the African News Agency, the Star, Pretoria News, Citizen, IOL, News 24, Daily Maverick, as well as CCTV, Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, People's Daily Online, China News Service, Economic Daily, Science and Technology Daily, China and Africa and Phoenix TV, followed and covered the event.