Minister Motshekga speaking notes on the occasion of the 97th anniversary of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China

Today, the 97th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China is being honored, with the event graced by the presence of Ambassador Wu Peng, the new representative of the People's Republic of China to South Africa. The two nations share a deep-rooted history, marked by China's unwavering support during South Africa's struggle against apartheid. From the early days when uMkhonto we Sizwe leaders trained in China to the robust diplomatic relations established in 1998, the ties between the countries have only grown stronger. This enduring partnership spans various areas, including defense, where their collaboration continues to thrive. As this milestone is celebrated, there is a collective anticipation of further strengthening bilateral relations and fostering mutual growth and cooperation.

Ambassador Wu Peng of the Peoples Republic of China

Ambassadors and High Commissioners

Senior leadership of the South African National Defence Force

Members of the Military Attaché Advisory Corps represented in South Africa

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

I wish to welcome Ambassador Wu Peng who has just started his tenure as the Peoples Republic of China representative to our country recently.

It gives me great pleasure to officiate on this occasion of the 97th anniversary of the Peoples Liberation Army of China. South Africa and the Peoples Republic of China have had good relations dating back to the period of the struggle against apartheid, with China fully supporting the liberation movements, the African National Congress and the Pan Africanist Congress.

When the decision was made to form uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961, our leadership underwent their military training in China. None other than Andrew Mlangeni, one of the first commanders of MK and Rivonia trialist, was in that first group and had an occasion to engage with the Chairman Mao Zedong and exchanged ideas on strategies to fight the apartheid regime. These ties sustained the liberation movement until the achievement of our freedom in 1994.

Not long thereafter, diplomatic relations were established in January 1998, after we severed relations with Taiwan in, recognizing the Peoples Republic of China as the sole government representing the whole of China. It further bolstered the UN Resolution 2758 of 1971. This pursuit of the One China Policy was during our first President and commander-in-chief, Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela leadership, whose birthday we celebrated a week ago.

As we mark the 97th anniversary of the PLA, we need to be cognizant that our bilateral relations straddle many areas of co-operation across government and were elevated to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In addition, there is in place the Binational Commission (BNC) at the level of the Deputy Presidents of our country. Deputy President Mashatile led the BNC in November 2023.

Having assumed the portfolio of defence and military veterans, it is noteworthy that even in this field, there exists defence diplomatic relations, with a Memorandum of Understanding entered in December 2001 and remains in force. Prior to this, our country’s armed forces were already collaborating and the first formal military to military contact was in January 1995. The current relations within this field in accordance with the MoU have seen many areas of cooperation as well as high level visits between our two countries, including port visits by our navies. In this regard, we look forward to the visit and port call by the PLA’s navy to our shores late next month and the exercises they will undertake with the SA Navy and the South African Military Health Services. This will be a further signal of the strengthening of our relations, and also come against the background of the naval exercises we held in Richards Bay on the occasion of our Armed Forces Day on the 21st February 2023.

In addition to the MoU on defence, we have entered into other agreements, to mention but a few…Agreement on rendering military goods gratis to the SANDF when we hosted the SADC peacekeeping Exercise Blue Crane; letter of offer and acceptance for the donation of IT training equipment which we are utilising at the Peace Mission Training Centre; agreement between our two defence establishments for the provision of military assistance gratis towards the construction of the mobilisation and demobilization centre in De Brug, Bloemfontein. In addition to these programmes, we continue to send our officers at different levels to undergo further training in the fields of the army, navy, military health services. Similarly, the PLA has taken the opportunity of education and training in some of our military colleges.

As South Africa we look forward to the existing relations, and look forward to the state visit by our President during 2nd to the 4th September 2024 on the margins of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, FOCAC. This would be reciprocating the fourth state visit undertaken by President Xi in 2023 on the margins of the 15th BRICS Summit. During this occasion, President Xi proudly stated that our two countries have now entered a “golden era” of cooperation. The pending state visit will provide our two leaders the opportunity to exchange ideas not only on bilateral political and economic issues, but also strategic international matters of peace and security. Most importantly, it would also be an opportunity to raise matters ahead of the forthcoming G20 Summit which we will host in 2025.

As I conclude, I cannot over emphasize that China remains our largest trading partner globally, while South Africa is number one trading partner in Africa. There are nearly thirty large South African companies who have invested in China in various sectors.

I wish to wish the Peoples Liberation Army happy 97th anniversary and may it continue to grow from strength to strength.

I thank you