The Honorable Dr. Thomas Auf der Heyde, DDG of Department of Science & Technology, representing the South African government,

His Excellency, Mr. Bene M'Poko, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,

His Excellency Ambassadors and High Commissioners,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies & Gentlemen,

Good Afternoon!

Welcome to the Chinese Embassy. Thank you for joining us in celebrating the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. We are very pleased to have witnessed, great progress during the past year, on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and South Africa.

Following the successful visit to China by His Excellency, President Zuma, in August 2010, His Excellency, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, visited South Africa last November. He co-hosted the 4th China-South Africa Bi-National Commission with His Excellency Deputy President Motlanthe. During Xi's visit, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation concluded the 3rd annual strategic dialogue between the two countries. Again, in April this year, His Excellency President Zuma visited China, to attend the 3rd BRICS Leaders Meeting and the Opening Ceremony of the Bo'ao Forum Annual Conference. In May, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Congress visited South Africa, pushing the bilateral parliamentary exchanges to a new level.

The frequent high-level visits not only deepened mutual political trust, but also enhanced bilateral relations as well as exchange and cooperation between our two countries in all fields. Now, China is South Africa's biggest trade partner, and South Africa, China's biggest in Africa. According to the Chinese Customs statistics, bilateral trade between our two countries reached 25.6 billion US Dollars in 2010. During the first half of this year, our bilateral trade reached 13.6 billion US Dollars, an increase of 36% over the same period last year, and China's trade deficit to South Africa stood at 2 billion US Dollars. Last November, the two countries established a joint working group on trade statistics, to analyze how to further improve the bilateral trade structure, secure positive and sustainable development of trade between our two countries. China has also set up a "Exhibition Center for African Products" in Yi-Wu, a popular commodity exchange center in China, while encouraging Chinese enterprises to expand imports from South Africa. The Exhibition Center opened in April this year, and in November, China will host a commodity fair for South African products, to help them gain more excess to the vast Chinese market.

Distinguished guests, Ladies & Gentlemen,

Great progress has also been made during the past year between China and South Africa in areas such as science & technology, education, culture, defence, policing, and local government. In April this year, two Chinese Naval Warships, FFG "Zhoushan" and FFG "Xuzhou", who have just concluded their mission in Somali and Libya, paid a good-will visit to the Port of Durban. In May, Artists from the China Disabled People's Performing Arts Troupe performed in South Africa, and donated some R50,000 through their performance, to the South African Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, to support the welfare of the disabled people in South Africa. Chinese artists have participated in most international art festivals hosted by South Africa, including the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, and the Joburg Arts Alive International Festival. The annual Chinese Education Exhibition in Cape Town has also proved to be a great success. The exchanges and cooperation between our two countries in wider range of areas have greatly enhanced our bilateral relations, as well as the friendship and understanding between the peoples of China and South Africa.

Distinguished guests, Ladies & Gentlemen,

China supports the integration of Africa, and supports that the African Union should play a leading role in the regional affairs. China also commends South Africa's effort in promoting the unity, development and renaissance of Africa. China and South Africa are both important developing countries and emerging markets. We work very closely on important regional and international issues in multilateral platforms such as the BRICS, BASIC and G20.

It is my great pleasure to inform you that, His Excellency, Deputy President Motlanthe will visit China next week. It will be our common wish that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between China and South Africa will yield more fruitful results in the coming year.

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, to express our sincerely thanks to all the guests present today and friends who have actively promoted and participated in the development of China-South Africa relationship.

May I propose a toast, to the prosperity of our two great countries, to the well-being of our two great peoples, and to the health of our leaders and friends present today.

Cheers!