Chinese New Year named Year of the Dragon
Silence Charumbira/ Nomazulu Moyo
Johannesburg, South Africa – The Chinese community in Johannesburg, South Africa on Friday hosted glitzy and glamourous celebrations in Sandton to welcome the Asian economic giant’s new Consular General, Pan Qingjiang.
The celebrations doubled as the beginning of the celebrations for the 2024 Chinese New Year, the Year of the Dragon.
Joburg Chinese New Year celebrations attended by hundreds of guests
Also known as the spring festival, the celebrations were attended by hundreds of guests from various spheres including politicians. The Chinese New Year celebrations are guided by the Lunar Calendar, and are held 21 January to 20 February annually.
The celebrations featured performances by Chinese and South African singers and dancers who showcased their diverse artistry.
And they surely know their craft as they kept the audience at the edge of their seats with riveting performances in between speeches.
During his keynote address, Consular General Pan Qingjiang expressed his gratitude and optimism for the future of the bilateral relations between China and South Africa.
“Over the last year, China’s economy has sustained the momentum of recovery with an innovation-driven high-quality development. China’s GDP in 2023 reached over 126 trillion RMB, an increase of 5.2% year-on-year, maintaining a leading growth rate among major global economies.
“Being estimated to contribute one third to world growth, China remains the most powerful engine for global growth. China is committed to providing more opportunities and greater stability to the world through its path to modernisation,” Consular General Pan Qingjiang said.
Golden era of bilateral relations and hopes for increased cooperation in the New Year
He further noted that over the past year, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa, the relationship between China and South Africa had entered a “golden era”.
Both countries were committed to being strategic partners with high-level mutual trust, development partners that progress together, friendly partners that enjoy mutual understanding, and global partners with a commitment to justice, he said.
“The relations between China and Consular districts of Gauteng and Free State, have also made much headway. Premier Lesufi and Premier Mxolisi Dukwana visited China last year and reached a series of new agreements on cooperation with China. At the sub-national level, we see more frequent exchange of visits at all levels. We see increasingly expanded and deepening cooperation in many areas including economy, trade, investment, culture and sisterhood of cities/provinces.”
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He said he would work hard to promote economic trade and investment as well as mutual understanding between the country’s two peoples.
“I will do my part to build quality community of shared future between the two countries.”
The “wonderful celebrations” were a demonstration that the citizens of the two countries were so close at heart and appreciated each other’s cultures.”
In light of the geopolitical tensions that have seen South Africa’s relations being strained because of its decision to align with Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, Consular General Pan Qingjiang said both China and South Africa were “important members of the global south. I believe that solidarity will increase the voice of developing countries”.
Free State premier Dukwana said his province had a high level of co-operative, bilateral relations with several Chinese provinces as China was South Africa’s friend and development partner.
