Hon. Ms. Nontembeko Boyce, Speaker of the KZN Provincial Legislature,

Hon. Mr. Martin Meyer, MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure in KZN,

Hon. Ms. Mmabatho Tembe, Deputy Speaker of the KZN Provincial Legislature，

Cllr. Cyril Xaba, His Worship the Mayor of eThekwini Municipality,

Cllr. Eunice Majola, the Speaker of the Council for Musunduzi Municipality

H.E. Ambassador Siyabonga Cwele, Former South African Ambassador to China,

Distinguished friends from all walks of life in KwaZulu-Natal, members of the consular corps, dear compatriots,

Good evening! Welcome to the Chinese New Year Reception hosted by the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Durban. On behalf of the Consulate-General, I would like to extend our sincere Chinese New Year greetings and best wishes to all our guests and to the entire Chinese community in KwaZulu-Natal.

The year 2025 marks the completion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan for economic and social development. We met the targets in the Plan and made solid advances on the new journey of Chinese modernization. Our GDP exceeded RMB 140 trillion, per-capita GDP reached around USD 14 thousand, which means a 5.0% growth, continuing to rank among the leading major economies and serving as an important engine for global development. Our economic strength, scientific and technological abilities, defense capabilities, and composite national strength all reached new heights. Clear waters and lush mountains have become a salient feature of our landscape. Our people enjoy a growing sense of gain, happiness and security. The CPC Central Committee also put forward proposals for the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, setting out clear directions: pursuing higher-quality development, deepening reform and opening-up, and accelerating the growth of new quality productive forces.

Over the past year, we solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and established the Taiwan Recovery Day. We will continue to firmly uphold the post-war international order with the United Nations at its core, and the important post-war outcome that Taiwan’s sovereignty returned to China. We firmly oppose attempts by external forces to interfere in the Taiwan question and to revive militarism.

Over the past year, China hold the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in Tianjin and the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women successfully, announced new Nationally Determined Contributions to better address climate change, and President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Governance Initiative. We will continue to uphold multilateralism and economic globalisation, and promote a more just and equitable global governance system.

Over the past year, China further strengthened solidarity and cooperation with developing countries, especially African countries, advanced high-quality BRI cooperation, and accelerated the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation. China announced zero-tariff treatment on 100% tariff lines for products from 53 African countries, including South Africa. China–South Africa relations have maintained strategic and forward-looking momentum, with growing political mutual trust. In 2025, Premier Li Qiang attended the G20 Leader’s Summit hosted by South Africa and held talks with President Cyril Lamaphosa. Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Ronald Lamola, in Changsha. The two sides reached important consensus on deepening practical cooperation, consolidating strategic partnership, and supporting each other on multilateral platforms. Trade and the exchange of quality products progressed steadily, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges continued to deepen. The two sides also jointly launched the Initiative for Supporting Africa’s Modernisation, advancing cooperation in infrastructure, new energy technologies, the digital economy and green development—fully demonstrating the vitality and depth of China–South Africa relations in the new era.

KwaZulu-Natal continues to play an important role in China–South Africa relations. Cooperation between KZN and China in areas such as the economy, culture, education and sister-city links has advanced steadily. Delegations from China’s Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Xiamen have visited KwaZulu-Natal. MEC for Education Hon. Sipho Emmanuel Hlomuka, Deputy Speaker Hon. Mmabatho Tembe, and his worship the Mayor, Cllr. Cyril Xaba, visited China respectively. EThekwini and Xi’an signed a letter of intent on establishing a sister-city relationship, and efforts were promoted to support Alibaba’s development of an Africa operations centre in Durban. China–South Africa cooperation in vocational education has also made positive progress, with more young people from KwaZulu-Natal going to China for vocational and technical training—contributing valuable skills to South Africa’s economic development. China has continued to increase investment in KwaZulu-Natal: progress has been steady on the EB Cloete interchange bridge and the N3 upgrade projects undertaken by Chinese companies; NPC Cement has completed its technological upgrade; and projects including Club Med and the Cato Ridge Inland Port, with Chinese investment participation, have advanced in an orderly manner. The Confucius Institute at DUT and local Chinese community organisations have actively promoted cultural exchange. The special performance by the Beijing Dance Academy and the “Chinese Cultural Paradise” programme hosted by Shaanxi Province were successfully held in Durban, further strengthening the friendship between our peoples.

These achievements in China–KZN friendly cooperation would not have been possible without the care, support and participation of the KwaZulu-Natal Government, the Provincial Legislature, friends from all sectors, the local Chinese community, and Chinese enterprises in the province. Here, I would like to express my sincere appreciation and high respect to all of you. In the new year, I look forward to continued support from the KwaZulu-Natal Government, the Legislature and friends from all walks of life for the development of China–South Africa relations and for the local Chinese community and Chinese businesses—helping to safeguard a safe and enabling environment for their work and life. I also hope that our compatriots will continue to uphold the fine tradition of loving our motherland and our hometown, being diligent and law-abiding, and striving with initiative and enterprise—making greater contributions to local socio-economic development and to China–South Africa friendship and cooperation.

Chinese New Year is the most important traditional festival of the Chinese nation. 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Chinese lunar calendar. The horse symbolises perseverance, responsibility, and moving forward with strength and momentum. Let us charge ahead like horses with courage, vitality, and energy, fight for our dreams and our happiness, for even more fruitful outcomes in China–South Africa friendship and cooperation, and turn our great vision into beautiful realities.

Finally, I wish you all a happy Chinese New Year, good health, and peace and happiness for you and your families.

Thank you.