Recently, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from the faculty and students of the Confucius Institute at the Durban University of Technology in South Africa, encouraging them to learn the Chinese language well, and help carry forward and deepen the friendship and cooperation between China and South Africa.

Xi Jinping pointed out that he witnessed the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the Durban University of Technology 10 years ago, and was pleased to see that through the joint efforts of both sides, the educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries have yielded fruitful results, and a large number of South African youth have gained better understanding of China's history and culture, had more career options, and realized their dreams thanks to learning the Chinese language.

Xi Jinping stressed that China and South Africa, both important developing countries, have forged a special, comrades-plus-brothers friendship. Learning and understanding each other's language and culture will help to promote mutual understanding and enduring friendship between the people of the two countries. Xi Jinping said the teachers and students are welcome to visit and see more of China to have a deeper understanding of the country while learning the language well. He also encouraged them to help more friends see a real, multi-dimensional and all-round China by sharing with them what they have learnt and thought about China as well as their personal experiences in the country, and strive to be envoys of friendship working to carry forward and deepen the friendship between the two countries, thus contributing their part to promoting China-Africa friendship and cooperation and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

During his visit to South Africa in March 2013, Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of an agreement between China and South Africa on jointly establishing a Confucius Institute at the Durban University of Technology. Since its establishment 10 years ago, the Confucius Institute at the Durban University of Technology has trained nearly 10,000 students in total. Recently, fifty teachers and students of the institute wrote a joint letter to President Xi Jinping, sharing their experiences, gains and reflections while learning the Chinese language, and thanking President Xi and the Chinese government for providing more opportunities for African youth to pursue their dreams. They also said they very much looked forward to President Xi Jinping visiting South Africa again.