Programme Director; Mr Jin Wey,
Ministers,
Deputy Ministers,
Executive President of the South Africa-China People's Friendship Association, Mr Tom Cao,
Chairperson of the South Africa-China People's Friendship Association, Mr Manne Dipico,
Mr Abdul-ahad Abdurixit,
The South African Delegation,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.
I am deeply honoured for the opportunity to address this august gathering on the occasion of the SA-China People's Friendship Association banquet held in honour of the visiting South African delegation to the People's Republic of China.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Friendship Association for honouring us with this kind gesture.
We are indeed happy to be associated with the South Africa-China Peoples' Friendship Association, which in its short period of existence is promising to be a dynamic forum for strengthening the bonds of friendship and partnership between our two countries.
The SA-China Friendship Association has an important role to play in complementing the efforts of our respective governments to strengthen interaction between our countries and our people on every level.
This Association, which was officially launched in Johannesburg earlier this year, is an expression of non-governmental diplomacy and a broad platform for co-operation between the peoples of our countries.
The SA-China People's Friendship Association also provides a platform for our people to interact on their own, thus enabling them to share common standards of development and expertise in commerce, professionalism and also to benefit from cultural cross-pollination and indigenous knowledge exchanges.
This will enable us to devolve our bilateral exchanges to filter down to other levels such as non-governmental organisations and other formations.
Programme Director,
The year 2013 marks the 15th anniversary of formalised diplomatic relations between our countries.
In consequence both of our nations have agreed on celebrating this milestone in our unique relations through what is termed 'South Africa's Year in China in 2014' and 'China's Year in South Africa in 2015', which will see each of our countries hosting the other, characterised by activities and exchanges of high level visits.
These celebrations will create a great opportunity for the SA-China People's Friendship Association to make notable contribution further to deepen relations between our people, bringing them even closer together in various facets of life.
I am informed that the membership of SA-China People's Friendship Association is made up of people with expertise in a wide-range of fields and industries, including officials, scholars, lawyers, businessmen, athletes, actors, media people, doctors etc.
With this in mind one cannot help noticing that the SA-China People's Friendship Association is indeed well-attuned to bringing its dynamic social character to bear on these evolving exchanges among our peoples.
We believe that these social forces are the driving imperatives behind the development of culture and as such, though this is between two nations, such acts go a long way towards enhancing universal understanding and international solidarity.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Since South Africa and China established diplomatic relations in 1998 we have achieved success in improving our relations which matured from ordinary partnership to strategic one, culminating in a comprehensive strategic partnership.
As Comprehensive Strategic Partners, South Africa and China will put more emphasis on these exchanges and cooperation.
Let me also indicate that the year 2014 marks 20 years of South Africa's democracy. In the context of the growing relationship between our countries, I would like to recommend to this Association to find ways of participating in these historic celebrations of democracy and freedom.
I would like to conclude by once again thanking the government of the People's Republic of China, the SA-China People's Friendship Association and the Chinese nation at large for the memorable hospitality afforded us during this visit.
Indeed if this is anything to go by, our future relations are bound to be on the up and up. I wish you well in your future efforts to accomplish this historic task of forging closer ties between our people.
I thank you!
