The Presidency, in Beijing, China, 5 December 2014
Statement by President Jacob Zuma
for the
Closing Ceremony of the Year 2014
as the
Year of South Africa in China
Your Excellency, the Chairman of the National People's Congress,
Honourable Ministers
Members of the diplomatic corps,
Our dear friends and comrades,
Fellow South Africans,
On behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of South Africa,
I wish to sincerely thank the Government and the people of the People's
Republic of China for bestowing upon South Africa this distinct honour of a
State Year.
South Africa appreciates your gesture, dedicating the year of the Horse as
the symbol of strength, peace, beauty, gentleness, loyalty, collective hard
work, and commitment to South Africa.
This is indeed a crucial milestone in the history of our people-to-people
relations.
This past year has enabled South Africa to showcase our economic, political
and cultural achievements since the end of apartheid to the people of China.
The year has yielded business and development opportunities and provided a
platform to demonstrate South Africa's innovation and best practices in a
multitude of disciplines, including science and technology, mining, arts and
culture, and tourism.
Throughout the year, we have been able to visit several provinces of your
vast and beautiful country and interact on a personal level with the people
of China from all walks of life.
We were warmly embraced wherever we went and new bonds of friendship and
understanding were forged providing us a better understanding of each other.
We have, through this experience, learned to deeply appreciate the beauty of
your country and the remarkable progress China has made over the past six
decades to become a leading global power.
The Year has also served to profile South Africa and improve an
understanding and appreciation of our country in China.
It is our view that this will ultimately lead to the further strengthening
of ties in all walks of life between our peoples.
The celebration of South Africa has been an expression of our shared values,
of mutual trust, mutual respect, mutual benefit and openness in all our
interactions.
The outcomes of these celebrations will no doubt enhance our engagement on
the road to prosperity and peaceful coexistence as citizens and friends in
the international community.
The future of our peoples is in our collective hands. Let us continue to
build that future together, a future of peace prosperity and harmonious
coexistence.
We sincerely thank the Government and the people of China once again, for
the unyielding support and solidarity as you assisted our democratic
revolutionary movements not just in South Africa but also Africa at large.
We note your on-going commitment and support to ensure that our emerging
nations succeed through development whilst you have practically demonstrated
your commitment to the principles entrenched in South-South cooperation.
This is evident within the framework of the five pillars of your foreign
policy of mutual respect, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-interference,
equality and cooperation for mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence.
According to ancient Chinese philosophy there is a belief that to build an
economy you must first build roads, we in South Africa concur with this
fully.
We see these celebrations as a reflection of roads being built that connect
our people working together in partnership towards peace and prosperity.
Your Excellency, esteemed guests,
We now have the honour and pleasure to formally invite you to bring the rich
and vibrant Chinese culture to our shores as we prepare to celebrate 2015 as
the Year of China in South Africa.
The people of South Africa will equally embrace you.
I thank you.
Hlomani Baloyi
Assistant Media Specialist
West Wing,Union Buildings
Government Avenue
Pretoria
The Presidency
012 300 5373
083 276 1295
[email protected]
www.thepresidency.gov.za
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