Consul General Pan Qingjiang remains steadfast in his belief that the spirit of “people’s power” is vital to the ongoing friendship between China and South Africa.
“It is in your hands to make our world a better one for all.”
These resonating words by Nelson Mandela recognise people’s power and inspire people to strive to make an impact. Mandela’s words align perfectly with Chinese President XI Jinping’s belief that “the people, who create history, are the true heroes”.
People’s power has been fully demonstrated in the history of both South Africa and China. In South Africa, it is the courage, perseverance and resilience of the people that have transformed the great nation so tremendously in the past century. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China over the past 105 years since its founding, the Chinese people have enabled the nation to realise the historic leap from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong.
People’s power is equally significant in fostering good relations between nations. We believe that the hope of a bilateral relationship lies in the people; its foundation is in the societies; its future depends on the youth; and its vitality comes from exchanges at sub-national levels.
