Dear Deputy Vice Chancellor Nhlapo,

Professors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Teachers and Students,

Good morning!

On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town together with my colleagues, I would like to extend our warm greetings to all of you and our appreciation to the University of Cape Town for their efforts and hard work during last week, or last month to bring true the event – the 10th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition Preliminary Contest in South Africa which has gone through for ten years now. I can see that in the past 3 years I have been in South Africa, more and more students are joining in the contest to show their talents, their performance, their language skills, and above all to show their integrity to learn.

China – South Africa relationship is on a sound and healthy track developed from strategic partnership into comprehensive strategic partnership last August when President Hu Jintao met President Zuma. Early this year President Zuma went to Hainan to attend the 3rd BRICKS Summit. This shows that BRICK becomes BRICKS. BRICKS may build high buildings. Four of the BRICKS countries are from the south, namely China, India, Brazil and South Africa, two in Asia, one in Latin America and one in Africa, all are developing countries. One country is from the north, that is Russia. They are emerging countries from all the continents of the world. They are playing a more and more important role in the world arena. Moreover, it has laid a solid foundation for the development in trade, business, economics, science and technology, particular in education between our two countries.

Education is on the agenda. What does that mean to you? It means that you stand a better chance to go to China because of more and more exchanges. If you are not among the first, you are still among the first batch to go to China, because you are learning the Chinese language. You will go there to see the culture, the civilization and people as well. In that way, you will have a feeling of the language. That will improve your Chinese greatly as you are in the language situation.

Last week when the World Economic Forum convened in Cape Town, it is reported that leading economists from African countries complained about too many African art students and too few African science students and argued that African development need more scientists and skilled workers. Will the learning of Chinese language and Chinese culture be of any use or assistance? The answer is positive. More than one is overwhelmed by Chinese students’ math ability. The fact that Chinese students learn to use abacus and the Chinese way of calculating in terms of decimal system contribute a lot to it. Besides, their learning to write Chinese characters is also a big plus. When one writes a Chinese character, he starts from top to bottom, from left to right, from outside to inside and close it at the bottom. This pains-taking effort is somewhat a training of logic and through the years of learning it engrained in his mind as much as a training of the combination of the mind, hand and eyes. I would like to extend to you my best wishes and encouragement in learning the Chinese language and culture.

In China we have the saying, “Friendship First, Competition Second.” Competition is only temporary while friendship will ever last. In this competition, I will say you are all winners, no losers, because you have participated in the event, you have made your endeavor, and you have manifested your ability and talent. The only difference is that the lucky ones go to China first as others may go later. Whatever the result is, you are all winners. Here I will offer my congratulations to all of you in advance!

In conclusion:

We are gathering at the foot of the Table Mountain,

Where the spirit of rainbow coalition finds its fountain.

Yesterday, you worked hard in pain,

Today, wisdom and knowledge you will gain.

Upon Bridge of Friendship, Resonance of Passion,

First comes friendship, second goes competition.

Over the mountain and across the ocean,

One harmonious world is our common aspiration.

Thank you.