Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science and Innovation Buti Manamela and Chinese ambassador to South Africa Chen Xiaodong, with some essay contest winners. Picture: Supplied
Said Manamela: “Today’s award ceremony is further testimony of the cordial relationship that exists between our two great nations. “Over the same period, the Chinese government made significant improvements in access to health, education, and other services.“Today, China is classified as an upper-middle-income country that has a GDP of over $18 trillion, an unemployment rate of 5.5% and has the largest basic education system in the world, with almost 260 million students and over 15 million teachers in over 500 000 schools.
In his keynote address, Chen said the new development of China in the new era would bring “new opportunities to the world and will certainly give boost to the future development of China-South Africa relations”. “The Chinese government welcomes outstanding students from all over the world, including South Africa, to study or exchange in China,” said Chen.
He said that the younger generation “should aim high but stay grounded, dare to think big and take action – but make sure you can deliver”.