Celebrated Chinese tenor Zeng Yong and South African singer Ntombee Ngcobo are crowd favorites at the Year of China in South Africa launch night, backed by the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra

The Year of China in South Africa was officially inaugurated with a grand and colorful concert at the State Theater in administrative capital Pretoria on March 15. Traditional music, classical symphonies and a piano concerto were all part of the festive occasion.

Chinese Minister of Culture Luo Shugang and South African Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa took part in the opening ceremony, reading messages of congratulations from Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma respectively.

Holding reciprocal country year celebrations in China and South Africa by rotation is an important agreement reached by the two presidents during Xi's visit to South Africa in 2013. 

Continental first

The Year of South Africa was successfully held in China last year. Dozens of cultural, economic, academic and educational exchanges showcased the unique attraction of the "rainbow nation" and provided an opportunity for Chinese to know more about it.

The first edition of the Year of China in South Africa, indeed, in entire Africa, is being celebrated with more than 200 events in all the nine provinces and major cities in South Africa. These events cover the economy, trade, culture, education, science and technology, and tourism. A rich cultural feast for the public, the program also means more opportunities to deepen bilateral practical cooperation.

Concert goers in festive mood at the Year of China in South Africa launch

Extensive celebrations

The opening and closing ceremonies are the highlights of the program. The finale will be held during the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in the fourth quarter of this year.

The inaugural event was preceded by several warm-up celebrations. In January, an exhibition of photographs of South Africa's beautiful scenery and warm-hearted people taken by Chinese working and living in South Africa was held at Museum Africa in downtown Johannesburg.

The Happy Spring Festival celebrations held in February in the cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban delighted crowds with traditional temple fair activities, dragon and lion dances, and folk music. Art performances, Chinese film shows and martial arts performances added more color to the festivities.

On February 28, Johannesburg's Chinatown in the suburb of Cyrildene attracted a large crowd, who came to savor the traditional Chinese New Year experience, complete with Chinese food and fireworks. 

The University of Pretoria Youth Choir in fine voice at the Year of China in South Africa launch

Range of events

The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, one of organizers of the Year of China in South Africa, said this year's events are diverse and eye-catching.

The embassy is considering inviting Chinese kungfu movie star Jackie Chan to join young volunteers from the two countries at a wildlife protection forum which is planned to make people aware of the need to protect wildlife and promote tourism in South Africa.

Chinese Bridge, an entertaining Chinese language proficiency competition for foreign college students, and an exhibition of Chinese characters will help introduce Chinese culture further.

In addition, arts, martial arts and free combat performances and exchanges will take place in major South African cities.

Exchanges and dialogues are an important part of the events. A dialogue between Chinese and South African corporations will be held to boost economic and trade cooperation. The Zhejiang Normal University, along with South African academics, is planning the Fourth Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tank Forum in the middle of the year. The forum will discuss the new development trend in Africa post-2015 and changes in Africa's relations with the world.

Information on the forum will be released on the Chinese Embassy's website and its Facebook page. 

Deepening cooperation

This year is extremely important for China-South Africa relations. Their joint hosting of the Year of China in South Africa and the FOCAC's Sixth Ministerial Conference in South Africa are great opportunities to enhance bilateral relations.

The Chinese Embassy said the two countries will maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges. Leaders from both sides will closely communicate and coordinate in bilateral relations and major regional and international issues of mutual interest. Practical bilateral cooperation in the areas of blue economy, building special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial parks, and increasing trade, training and technology transfers is expected to deepen.

Since the two countries have their own strengths in developing a blue economy, there is great potential for cooperation, especially in constructing ports and industrial parks, ship building, offshore oil and gas exploration, and aquaculture.

China and South Africa can also cooperate to build SEZs and industrial parks in South Africa. With the latter promoting the construction of SEZs and science and technology parks to accelerate industrial development, China can share its development experience, helping South Africa with its re-industrialization and sustainable development.

Also on the agenda is jointly establishing science parks, building a platform for Chinese and South African enterprises and research institutions for technology development, and putting the research achievements into application.

The two sides will also seek to expand trade, improve the trade mix and promote a balanced and sustainable development of bilateral trade by encouraging trade missions and recommending competitive products. China will consider increasing the import of South African high value-added products, the Chinese Embassy spokesperson said.

Upgrading human resources through training and technology transfers is a feature of the ongoing mutual cooperation. China has offered to train and cultivate talented individuals in high-demand areas to accelerate South Africa's economic and social development. Beijing is also encouraging the Chinese companies in South Africa to accelerate localization and strengthen technology transfers while creating more jobs for locals.

As the future lies in the hands of the youth, the two sides will establish regular youth exchange mechanisms to bolster communication. Principals, teachers and students of universities, high schools and primary schools will be invited to China during this year.

(Reporting from South Africa)

The Year of China in South Africa Logo

The logo, shaped like a Chinese red lantern, contains the colors of the national flags of China and South Africa. Its top left resembles a springbok, South Africa's national animal. The left of the logo is shaped like the letter "C," symbolizing China, and its bottom forms 2015. The "SA" at the right of the logo represents South Africa. The Chinese characters at the bottom of the logo mean "the Year of China in South Africa."