A reception for celebrating the 57th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China was held in Sheraton Pretoria Hotel on September 29th, 2006. At the invitation of Ambassador and Mrs. Liu Guijin, about 600 guests from South African government, envoys from different countries to South Africa, reporters from local media, oversea Chinese and students attended the gathering.

The photos of "Harmonious China: Aspiration and Dreams", which were displayed in the Reception Hall, fascinated the guests. They enjoyed those colorful pictures and highly appreciated the remarkable achievements China has made since its founding in 1949, especially since its launching of reform and opening-up. What China has done in its economic development, poverty reduction and the improvement of the Chinese people's living standard have left them deep impressions. Many guests were very happy to take pictures in front of the giant photo of Mount Qomolangma, Himalayan Mountain Range, which is the tallest peak in the world. In 2005, the Chinese government completed a new survey of Mount Qomolangma, confirming that at 8844.43 meters above sea level.

Ms. Malao, curator of South African National Cultural and History Museum, was also one of the guests to the reception. She was very excited to see the picture of the Bund in Shanghai, a place she visited in November of 2005 as one of the members of South African Cultural Heritage Delegation. She introduced to other guests about the city construction of Shanghai and her wonderful experience while she was looking down from the tourist observing floor of Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower. She said, "If I have a second chance to visit China in the future, I will certainly go to Shanghai again, as it is a place where you can experience the opening-up and modernization drive the Chinese people are carrying out."

Some oversee Chinese, representatives from local Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese students who had been invited to the reception also took pictures in front of the photos of "Harmonious China". They sincerely wish their motherland be flourishing and prosperous in the years to come.