Your Excellency, Ambassador Zhong
Excellencies
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It’s a great honour to be here today on behalf of the South African government, and it’s a great pleasure to congratulate the people and government of the Peoples’ Republic of China on the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Republic.
As we look back at our struggle for liberation and our progress since 1994, we do so fully aware that the support and solidarity from China played a critical role in our success. Last year we marked the 10th anniversary of our formal bilateral relations. We marked this anniversary with a celebrations programme that lasted the whole year.
Your Excellency, China has become an increasingly important trading partner for South Africa. Total trade has grown from R5,2 billion in 1998 to R116 billion by the end of 2008. We’re also pleased at the support we have received from the Chinese government and people in our endeavours to bring about peace and security on the African continent. In this regard we are encouraged by both the bilateral initiatives we have and the multilateral cooperation between China and Africa through the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).
FOCAC is the key mechanism for promoting cooperation between China and Africa. The declaration of the Beijing summit of FOCAC and the FOCAC-Beijing action plan (2007 to 2009) mapped out a strategic framework and action mechanism for pragmatic and effective cooperation and mutual support. So far commendable progress has been made in the eight policy areas, covering debt relief, establishing the five special economic and trade zones, establishing the China-Africa Development Fund, as well as the building of agriculture and anti-malaria demonstration centres.
You’ll agree with me when I say that it is not by accident that our relations are where they are today. Ours is a relationship that is based not only on historical circumstance, but also on a determination to learn from each other and use our collective experience to make a real and meaningful contribution to make the world we live in a better place for current and future generations.
Your Excellency, next year both our countries will host significant global events. South Africa will host the premier soccer event, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while China will host the 2010 Shanghai World Exposition. South Africa is hard at work preparing to participate in the Shanghai World Exposition and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the government and people of China to attend the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to take this opportunity to propose a toast to the good health of President HU Jintao and to our own President Jacob Zuma and to wish them well as they prepare to participate in the United Nations General Assembly.
To the people, the government and the friendly embassy of the People’s Republic of China!
Issued by: Department of Science and Technology
21 September 2009
Source: Department of Science and Technology (http://www.dst.gov.za/)
