General Secretary Xi Jinping’s Reply Letter to Teachers and Students of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology, South Africa

Chinese President Xi Jinping replies to students and teachers of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology in South Africa, encouraging them to learn Chinese and contribute to the development of friendly relations between China and South Africa.

Xi Jinping pointed out that he witnessed the establishment of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology ten years ago. He was pleased to see that, through joint efforts, the educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries have yielded fruitful results. Many South African youths have learned about Chinese history and culture, broadened their career choices, and realized their dreams by studying Chinese.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China and South Africa are both important developing countries, and they have a special friendship as comrades and brothers. Learning about each other's languages and cultures helps promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. He welcomes them to come to China to deepen their understanding of China and use their knowledge and experiences to introduce a real, three-dimensional, and comprehensive China to more friends. He encourages them to become messengers of promoting and developing friendly relations between China and South Africa, and to contribute their efforts to promoting friendship and cooperation between China and Africa, and building a community with a shared future for mankind.

In March 2013, President Xi Jinping witnessed the signing of the agreement on the joint establishment of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology during his visit to South Africa. In the past ten years since its establishment, the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology has trained nearly 10,000 students. Recently, 50 students and teachers jointly wrote to President Xi Jinping, recounting their experiences, gains, and insights from learning Chinese, and expressed their gratitude to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for providing more opportunities for African youth to pursue their dreams. They eagerly look forward to President Xi Jinping's visit to South Africa once again.