On 18th January, Consul General Kang Yong and Mrs. Kang hosted reception in Nelson Mandela Bay in celebration of Chinese New Year 2017, the Year of Rooster. Mr. Cedric T. Frolick, House Chairperson of the National Assembly, Ms Noxolo Kiviet, Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, Mr. Mongameli Bobani, Deputy Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay and city councilors of Nelson Mandela Bay, Sarah Baartman, representatives from SAPS, Coega IDZ, local business, education and Chinese community attended the reception.

Mr. Phumulo Masualle, Premier of the Eastern Cape province sent congratulatory message to Consul General Kang and Chinese community in Eastern Cape province over the Chinese New Year.

In his speech, Consul General Kang applauded the current China-South Africa relationship as at its best stage in history. Exchanges and cooperation between the Eastern Cape and provinces in China also reached new height. He said he was satisfied to see the BAIC investment in Coega IDZ was being carried out smoothly and he was confident the Coega IDZ would grow into an economic engine.

Consul General Kang sent his new year greetings to local Chinese community and he thanked local governments as well as SAPS and CPFs for their efforts in safeguarding Chinese community, over the years.

House Chairperson Mr. Frolick highly praised the bilateral relations between China and South Africa. He emphasized that One China policy was the cornerstone to stability and success of the bilateral relations. He expressed his confidence that, both countries being members of BRICS and G20, China and South Africa will further strengthen their ties, enhance cooperation and enrich exchanges.

Speaker of EC Province Kiviet and Deputy Mayor Bobani spoke highly on the current cooperation and exchanges between China and Eastern Cape as well as Nelson Mandela Bay. They pledged to work in their capacities to encourage and facilitate trade and economic cooperation as well as people to people exchanges between the two sides.