The reception in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa, co-hosted by the CPAFFC and the Embassy of South Africa in China, was held in Beijing on January 18, 2018. H.E. Mr. Qiangba Puncog, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, H.E. Mr. Abdul'ahat Abdurixit, Former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and President of the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association (CAPFA), H.E. Mr. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education, H.E. Mr. Shen Youqing, Major General of Logistic Support Department, Central Military Commission, Mme. Lin Yi, CPAFFC Vice President, H.E. Mr. Chen Xiaodong, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mrs. Dolana Msimang, Ambassador of South Africa to China and other 300 guests from all walks of life attended the reception.

CAPFA President H.E. Mr. Abdul'ahat Abdurixit said in his remarks that over the past 20 years, with joint efforts from both sides, China-South Africa relations have been upgraded from partnership to strategic partnership and then to comprehensive strategic partnership. The political mutual trust has deepened, exponential growth of the scale of pragmatic cooperation has been achieved, and rich and colorful people-to-people and cultural exchanges have been carried out as well. The convening of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will bring new opportunities and momentum to the development of China-South Africa and China-Africa relations. The two countries should join hands and take a long-term perspective, to make China-South Africa relations in full bloom in the new era.

Ambassador Msimang said that she is very happy to see that the success of South Africa-China close cooperation is increasingly anchored by people-to-people relations. She also noted that based on mutual trust and friendship between leaders of China and South Africa, bilateral political relations at the level of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership are excellent. The two countries have carried out pragmatic and rich exchanges and cooperation in areas of economy and culture and stayed in close contact within the framework of FOCAC and BRICS.