Chinese Embassy Celebrates 75th Anniversary of PRC
The Chinese Embassy in South Africa hosted a reception on Thursday (26 September 2024) in Pretoria to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The event, which took place in the country’s administrative capital, highlighted the deepening friendship and cooperation between China and South Africa.
Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, delivered a welcoming address, emphasizing the longstanding bond between the two nations.
“Although China and South Africa are separated by oceans, the friendship between our peoples has a long history and has grown stronger over the years,” he said.
Ambassador Wu also reflected on the recent state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to China in early September. During the visit, both countries agreed to elevate their relationship to an “all-round strategic cooperative partnership in the new era.” Wu described this as a pivotal moment in bilateral relations.
“China stands ready to take the implementation of the consensus reached by the two heads of state as an opportunity, join hands with South Africa in the pursuit of modernization, and work together to build a higher level of a China-South Africa community with a shared future,” Wu said. He emphasized that this partnership will benefit both nations and their peoples.
Mmamoloko Kubayi, South Africa’s Minister of Human Settlements, also attended the event and spoke on the growing ties between the two countries. “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the bilateral relationship between South Africa and China has continued to flourish,” she said.
Kubayi further highlighted the significance of President Ramaphosa’s recent visit to China, stating that it has laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration not just between South Africa and China, but also between China and the African continent as a whole.
“South Africa looks forward to continuing close cooperation with China. We appreciate China’s commitment to supporting our G20 presidency objectives next year, as the two countries work closely to advance the legitimate interests and views of the Global South in addressing economic development and inequality,” Kubayi added.
The reception saw over 600 attendees, including South Africa’s Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, African National Congress Treasurer General, Gwen Ramokgopa, along with various government officials, diplomats, and representatives of Chinese businesses in South Africa.
The event highlighted the importance of bilateral ties between China and South Africa as both nations continue to strengthen cooperation on multiple fronts, from economic development to global governance.
