Programme director, Dr Martyn Davies
Honourable Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde
His Excellency Ambassador Zhong Jianhua
Director of the Gordon Institute of Business Science, Professor Nick Binedell
Members of the academic community
Business representatives from the Peoples Republic of China
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is a great pleasure for me to be part of this important function, marking the launch of the Africa-China Network. The People’s Republic of China and the continent of Africa enjoy good, cordial relations which date many years back. As early as the 1950s and 1960s, China and Africa had fought side by side in the struggle against imperialism and colonialism. The two sides had since worked together in the effort to revive their respective national economies.
The burgeoning relationship between South Africa and China is based on a foundation of both our countries commitment to strengthening and deepening South-South collaboration. The new dynamic of the global political economy, especially the current global economic crisis and the threats posed by climate change, is the growing assertion of emerging powers such as South Africa and China to forge a new dispensation that seeks to challenge traditional institutions and entrenched systems and influence positive change in favour of ourselves in the developing world. Both South Africa and China are leading developing countries that together must take on this task.
Quoting Professor Yang Jiemian, President of the Shanghai Institute of International Studies (and also the brother of China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi) at an academic conference held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our diplomatic relations in April 2007, he said that emerging powers are “now making the rules rather than accepting the rules passively.” China and South Africa are “mapping out a new charter” according to Professor Yang. I would agree with this assertion.
More recently, cooperation between the two sides has found expression through the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) established about ten years ago. FOCAC has become an important bridge and platform for cooperation and engagement between China and the continent. Similarly, the People’s Republic of China and South Africa enjoy friendly diplomatic relations. Over the years, the two countries have experienced the deepening of relations and cooperation in the fields such as economy and trade, culture, science and technology, and educational exchange.
With respect to education, in 2007 the two countries concluded an agreement on educational collaboration and partnership. The agreement provides a good platform for our institutions to collaborate, and develop a joint research programmes that could enhance mutual understanding and respect between the two countries. It focuses on areas of mutual interest such as the promotion of institutional linkages between the two countries as well as the exchange of lecturers, researchers and post-graduate students.
The agreement culminated in the establishment of the first centre for Chinese Studies in 2005 based at the University of Stellenbosch and it continues to serve as a central hub for the creation and dissemination of knowledge pertinent to the understanding of the rich history, culture and the important role that the People’s Republic of China play in international affairs. The centre thus, plays a pivotal role in strengthening relationships for the purposes of student and academic exchanges between South African institutions and their Chinese counterparts.
Educational cooperation between South Africa and China predates the 2007 agreement. As early as 2003/04, the Chinese government has been offering South Africa a number of scholarships for students to study at Chinese higher education institutions. To date the Chinese government has provided full scholarships to more than 30 South Africans at Chinese universities. The scholarships ranged from six months for short courses to three years for postgraduate students at the masters and doctoral level. This initiative is valuable for our students who will benefit from this experience.
It is indisputable that Africa is a continent rich in natural resources. It is through healthy collaboration with partners like the Peoples Republic of China that the continent would rise above its current economic quagmire and address challenges of underdevelopment and poverty that continue to characterise many parts of the region. It is through mutually beneficial economic and cultural exchanges built on the values of mutual respect and equal engagement that Africa can indeed become a critical global player and not entirely depend on the generosities of others for the welfare of its people.
The political foundation has enabled this very rapidly expanding commercial relationship between our countries. But it is important for us to manage this growth in trade and ensure minimal dislocations in our own domestic economy. The preservation and creation of jobs in South Africa is an imperative and one that will remain a priority of our government.
Given all the above developments and imperatives, it is only a logical next step that this now finds expression also in the expansion of academic exchanges that hopefully would also seriously explore alternative models of development, especially for developing countries, and an alternative, more just paradigm for South North relations. We are now here in South Africa launching institutions such as the China Africa network here at the Gordon Institute of Business Science, that recognise the need bring together, to educate, and to disseminate knowledge to Africans and Chinese alike.
Programme director; let me conclude my input by once again expressing my thanks to the China-Africa network for inviting me, and my colleague, Deputy Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde to this function. I would also like to thank Prof Nick Bedell and Dr Martyn Davies for the creation of this timely and essential institution that will inform key South African stakeholders and broader society about our growing and mutually beneficial relationship with China.
It is through these kinds of exchanges that we could listen to each other and together work towards a common course for the development of our people. As China expands its presence in Africa, the interests of South Africa and China will increasingly intersect. It is important for us to collaborate and align our mutual efforts to improve the livelihoods of Africans and promote sustainable development in the region.
I wish this venture all the success.
I thank you.
Contact:
Ranjeni Munusamy
Tel: 012 312 5555
Fax: 012 323 5618
Cell: 082 898 6082
E-mail: munusamy.r@doe.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Higher Education and Training
18 January 2010
