China-South-Africa-sports-diplomacy-cultural-exchange by Ambassador Wu Peng

Dear Ms. Carmen Bouwer, Manager of the South African National Climbing Federation,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends:

Good morning! On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I warmly welcome you all!

As the Olympic spirit is sweeping across the globe, I am delighted to see South African athlete Tatjana Smith win the gold medal in the women's 100-meterbreaststroke. Along with our heartfelt congratulations, I was particularly moved by the photo of her embracing Chinese silver medalist Tang Qianting, which has received widespread acclaim online. This moment is a vivid testamentto the strong and enduring friendship between the peoples of China and South Africa.

China and South Africa, though separated by vast distances, share a deep and historic friendship. In recent years, under the strategic direction of our leaders, the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries has seen rapid development. Cultural exchanges, epitomized by sports, have become a vibrant highlight of our friendly relations, building a bridge of mutual understanding and creating many cherished stories and moments.

Last May, the World Table Tennis Championships were held in Durban, and the Chinese Table Tennis Association sent coaches to South Africa for short-term training of the South African team, fostering a deep connection through table tennis. In August, during President Xi Jinping's attendance at the 15th BRICS Summit and his state visit to South Africa, the China Media Group and the South African Football Association signed a memorandum of cooperation in Johannesburg, using football as a bridge to expand China-South Africa relations. In October, the South African national rugby team, the Springboks, won the Rugby World Cup for the fourth time. My predecessor, Ambassador Chen Xiaodong, wore a Springboks scarf and took photos to cheer them on, marking a high point in China-South Africa relations.

China has always been an active supporter of South Africa’s sport development. When the Embassy learned about South African athletes participating in the IFSC Climbing Youth Championships to be held in China’s Guizhou Province, we wanted to ensure that they would be able to travel to China to show what they are capable of on the world’s climbing stage. That’s why we have decided to make a donation to South African National Climbing Federation to help the youth climbing team realize their dream. I wish you great success and hope you will carry forward this cherished China-South Africa sports friendship.

Like South Africa, China is a country with diverse landscapes and a rich, multi-ethnic culture. The province you are about to visit, Guizhou, is located in southwest China. Known for its picturesque scenery and numerous ethnic groups, it is often called "Colorful Guizhou," similar to South Africa's "Rainbow Nation." Allow me to share a few highlights of Guizhou:

First, Guizhou is famed as a "natural air conditioner and oxygen bar." With an average summer temperature of only 23°C, it is one of the coolest regions at this latitude worldwide. The province has a forest coverage rate of 63%, low UV radiation, and high levels of negative oxygen ions, known as "air vitamins." During the current heatwaves in the Northern Hemisphere, Guizhou stands out as a perfect summer retreat.

Second, Guizhou is an "outdoor sports paradise." Besides its pleasant climate and beautiful landscapes, Guizhou features varied and rugged terrain, making it a prime destination for extreme sports and outdoor activities like mountain biking, marathons, hiking, and rock climbing.

Third, Guizhou represents a "success story of poverty alleviation." It used to be one of China's poorest provinces, with widespread and severe poverty. Thanks to the strong leadership of the Chinese government, we have achieved historic success in eradicating absolute poverty. By 2022, 9.23 million people in Guizhou had been lifted out of poverty, accounting for about one-tenth of the 98.99 million people lifted out of poverty nationwide, creating a remarkable achievement in poverty reduction.

You might have heard of Guizhou's "Village Super League" and "Village Basketball Association," which are cultural and sports activities spontaneously organized by farmers after their living conditions improved. I heard that Cape Town in South Africa has adopted the Guizhou "Village Super League" model and launched an event called the "South African Village Super League." I am looking forward to seeing it.

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Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

The essence of strong national relations lies in the close ties between people, and the future of China-South Africa relations depends on our youth. I understand that this is your first visit to China. I hope you take full advantage of this opportunity at the World Youth Climbing Championships to challenge yourselves and strive for excellence. Meanwhile, take the time to observe and understand China, and let your experiences and reflections contribute to the enduring "comrades plus brothers" friendship between China and South Africa, adding youthful energy to our bilateral relations. Before you depart, I want to share a song from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, "Beijing Welcomes You." With dreams, anyone can be extraordinary; with courage, opportunities and miracles arise." I wish you all a delightful and successful trip to Guizhou, China, and may you achieve great results!

Lastly, today is South Africa's Women's Day. I want to take this opportunity to wish all the female friends here a very happy holiday! May you all achieve a brilliant life through resilience and hard work!

Thank you!

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