Ｃｈｉｎａ－Ｓｏｕｔｈ　Ａｆｒｉｃａ　Ｆｒｉｅｎｄｓｈｉｐ　Ａｓｓｏｃｉａｔｉｏｎ　Ｆｏｕｎｄｅｄ

Ｏｕｒ　Ｓｔａｆｆ　Ｒｅｐｏｒｔｅｒ

On April 24, the founding ceremony of the China-South Africa Friendship Association (CSAFA) was held in Beijing on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa.

The CSAFA, a bilateral organization under the Chinese-African Peoples Friendship Association (CAPFA), aims at enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and South Africa and promoting the exchanges and cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, scientific and technological, sports, health, tourism and other fields between the two countries. Abdulahat Abdurixit, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and president of the CAPFA, serves as its president; Feng Zuoku, Liu Guijin and Jiang Hong its vice presidents and Lin Yi its secretary general. Abdulahat Abdurixit, former Chinese ambassador to South Africa Liu Guijin and South African Ambassador to China Ndumiso N. Ntshinga attended the founding ceremony and spoke on the occasion.

In his speech, Abdulahat Abdurixit said, though far apart, friendly contacts between the people of China and South Africa began as early as 500 years ago. Over the years the Chinese people have actively supported and provided assistance to the South African people in their just struggle against racism and apartheid, and forged profound friendship with them. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in January 1, 1998, the friendly exchanges and traditional friendship between our two peoples have been further enhanced and developed. The Vice Chairman added, in the past ten years, China and South Africa have witnessed rapid and all-round development of their bilateral relations, featured by frequent exchanges of high-level visits, deepened mutual political trust, fruitful cooperation in the areas including economy, trade, science, technology and culture, and close consultation in international and regional affairs. He expressed the hope that the CSAFA would carry out varied, rich, colourful and lively activities with the aim of promoting friendship and cooperation between China and South Africa, and serve as a bridge and tie between our two peoples.

Abdulahat Abdurixit and Ambassador Ndumiso N. Ntshinga unveiled the plaque of the CSAFA together.

Former Vice Foreign Minister Yang Fuchang, CAPFA Vice Presidents Feng Zuoku, Wang Yunze and Huang Zequan, and its council members in Beijing, diplomats from the embassies of the African countries in China and representatives of the media circles in the capital, totaling over 100, attended the ceremony.