REMARKS BY AMB WU PENG AT THE 2025 CHINESE NEW YEAR

“The Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation. It embodies not only philosophies of peace, harmony and unity, but also shared values of humanity, such as family happiness, social inclusiveness, and the harmonious coexistence between mankind and nature. With the Spring Festival around the corner, I want to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, my sincere greetings and best wishes to all of you.

In 2024, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China. At its Third Plenary Session, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China called for deepening reform across the board. China’s economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory, with our GDP for the year expected to pass 17.7 trillion US dollars. 

Green and low-carbon development has been enhanced. For the first time, China produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year. We put forward China’s visions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, APEC, G20 and other multilateral forums, deepening solidarity and cooperation among the Global South, and actively promoting global governance reform.

In 2024, the FOCAC Beijing Summit was successfully held, where China built strategic partnerships with all African countries having diplomatic ties with China. President Xi Jinping announced a six-point proposition and ten partnership actions that China would undertake with Africa as a political consensus to advance modernization together.

President Ramaphosa also paid a state visit to China and agreed with President Xi Jinping to elevate China-South Africa relations to an All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the New Era. Our two Presidents signed agreements in trade, agriculture, science, technology and more, which opened a new chapter in the Golden Era of our bilateral relations.

Last year, China-South Africa practical cooperation grew tremendously. Our trade reached 52 billion US dollars, which is nearly 20 percent of China’s trade with all of Africa. More than 200 Chinese enterprises are doing business in South Africa, investing over 10 billion US dollars. FAW Trucks invested another 200 million rand to upgrade their Coega plant in the Eastern Cape. Sinosteel contributed the added value of 2.4 million tons of ferrochrome capacity. China General Nuclear started working on a huge solar plant here and the Longyuan Wind Farm in Northern Cape produced over 5000 gigawatt hours of clean energy in total.

The 35 South African companies attracted great attention at the 7th China International Import and Export Expo in Shanghai, actively expanding their exports to China and other markets. There is also plenty of good news in the people-to-people space. We signed the agreement on stronger exchanges and cooperation in cultural heritages. South African secondary school and university contestants achieved amazing results in the global finals of the Chinese Bridge Competition.

As Ambassador, I also visited Limpopo, KZN, North West and Eastern Cape. When I saw Chinese military doctors giving treatment to South Africans, South African Chinese learners getting awards at Confucius Institutes, and the Chinese side donating to communities in Kgomo-Kgomo Village, North West, and Shongoane Village, Limpopo, I saw the people of China and South Africa holding hands more tightly and drawing closer together. These accomplishments could not have been possible without the strong support and participation of our compatriots in South Africa. You have worked tirelessly for the development of our motherland, paved the way for China-South Africa exchanges and cooperation, and made unrelenting efforts for China’s peaceful reunification. Here, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and sincere respect to all of you!

My Fellow Chinese and Friends, the year 2025 is the concluding year of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, and South Africa will host the G20 Summit. China will further deepen reforms comprehensively and continue to promote high-standard opening up to create more opportunities for Africa’s revitalization and global development. We look forward to working with the South African side, to earnestly implement the key consensus reached by the two heads of state and the outcomes of FOCAC, and jointly build a high-quality China-South Africa community with a shared future.

The Chinese Embassy and three Consulates General in South Africa will continue to uphold the principle of people-centered diplomacy stay dedicated to providing better services for our compatriots, and working to create a better environment for you to live, work, and study in South Africa.

Last but not least, I would like to give special thanks to the Sichuan Provincial Government and the Sichuan Overseas Friendship Association, who came all the way to South Africa with warm greetings from China in their wonderful performances and delicious Chinese food.

Now, please allow me to propose a toast, to the prosperity of our great motherland! To the flourishing development of China-South Africa relations! To the happiness and well-being of all our friends here today! Cheers!”