On May 17th, the Chinese Embassy in South Africa held the Acknowledgment Reception for the Successful Conclusion of the Visit by Vice Premier Liu Yandong to South Africa. South African government officials of Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Department of Science and Technology, Department of Arts and Culture, Department of Higher Education And Training, and Department of Communications, as well as over 200 guests from various social sectors attended the reception.

Mr. Li Song, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, said that establishment of the China-South Africa High-level People-to-People Exchange Mechanism(PPEM) is a major event between China and South Africa this year. The PPEM has been a testimony of unbreakable bonds of friendship between the two countries’ peoples and a dynamic boost to the in-depth development of China-South Africa comprehensive strategic partnership. In a broader context, it has also laid a strong basis for greater people-to-people links between China and Africa as a whole.

Mr. Li Song expressed his high degree of gratitude for the hard work and support given by various departments of South African Government, Chinese companies and Confucius Institute in South Africa. He stressed that the establishment of PPEM is a strategic decision made by President Xi Jinping and President Zuma, and it is an important measure to implement the outcome of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The establishment of PPEM is an important opportunity to create a new chapter in People-to-People Exchange of China-South Africa as well as China-Africa, and further enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa.

Mr. Li Song pointed out that with the outcomes of the just concluded Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, there would be more and more exchanges and cooperation across the continents, all the way from China to Africa. And PPEM will for sure play an important role in this historical process.

Ambassador Manelis Genge, Acting Deputy Director-General of DIRCO, congratulated on the success of the visit by Vice Premier Liu and the establishment of PPEM. He highly praised the efforts of both South Africa and China in making the visit by Vice Premier Liu and the launch of PPEM a success, and noted that the launch of the PPEM completes a triangular strand in our diplomatic relations, including Politics and Security, Trade and Economy, and People-to-People exchanges.

Guests all spoke highly of the reception, congratulated on the huge outcomes of the visit by Vice Premier Liu and the establishment of PPEM, and reviewed the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held in Beijing. Guests believed that People-to-People exchanges is an important foundation for enhancing the cooperation between China-South Africa and China-Africa, and they would make more contribution to it.

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