North West Speaker attends China’s 77th anniversary celebration

The Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, Ntsetsao Viola Motsumi, attended the 77th anniversary reception of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Pretoria on Wednesday.

The event was hosted by the Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Wu Peng, at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Arcadia.

Speaking on the sidelines of the reception, Motsumi highlighted the longstanding diplomatic relationship between South Africa and China, which dates back to the establishment of formal relations in 1998.

She said the relationship has since developed into an All-Round Strategic Cooperative Partnership, with cooperation extending across political, economic and social spheres.

“For the North West, this relationship carries a particular developmental significance,” Motsumi said.

She said the province’s future should be linked not only to opportunities within South Africa, but also to international opportunities in investment, trade, industrialisation, skills development, technology and infrastructure.

“As the province seeks to deepen its contribution to South Africa’s economic development, stronger provincial and international partnerships can help open pathways for cooperation that ultimately find expression in the lives and livelihoods of communities,” she said.

Motsumi added that the anniversary celebration was significant beyond its ceremonial nature, saying it formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between people, institutions and economies.

She said diplomatic relations should ultimately translate into practical opportunities that contribute to development.