May 11, 2007 at the University of South Africa

Dear Professor Maria Catharina Mare, Vice-Principal of the University of South Africa,

Members of the faculty and students,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

I am very glad to have this opportunity to come to the beautiful campus of University of South Africa today to attend the 6th "Chinese Bridge" - Chinese Proficiency Provisional Competition (SA) for Foreign College Students, as well as share the achievements of learning Chinese with lecturers and students. On behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, I am very appreciated to the Department of Education, various educational institutions and honoured guests in South Africa for supporting the popularization of Chinese. I would like to extend my cordial greetings to the lecturers who are dedicated to the Chinese teaching in South Africa. I also wish the candidates will obtain good results in this competition.

Rich and splendid language and culture which were created by generations of various peoples in the world are common legacy of human beings. With the development of human beings, exchange and popularization of language and culture between peoples have become an important part of human civilization. The Chinese history is also the history of the exchange of language and culture between China and foreign countries. With the ideology of "sea taking various rivers", the Chinese has assimilated other cultures to enrich ourselves. In fact, the abroad popularization of Chinese language and characters can be dated back long, long ago. Chinese characters and culture, together with silk and porcelain, were taken to the West through the Silk Road in the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD). Six hundred years ago, Zheng He, a famed Chinese navigator of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), headed a large convoy to circumnavigate the globe. Moreover, the porcelain with Chinese characters was also found on the coast of Africa.

It has been fifty-seven years after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 that Chinese language and culture were taught abroad systematically and in an organized way. In the process of both economic globalization and diversity of culture, language has become more and more important. With the sustainable development of Chinese economy and the increasing promotion of the status of China in the world, particularly the China's access to the World Trade Organization, the successful bidding for both hosting of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, the governments of various countries began to attach importance to Chinese learning owing to its important role in business and trading. So far, Chinese has been taught in over 100 countries on the globe. Millions of people involve in it. We are proud that the University of South Africa pioneered the Chinese teaching in South Africa. The establishment of the Chinese Center of the University of Stellenbosch promoted the Chinese teaching in South Africa to a higher level. Chinese teaching has also been conducted in some universities, middle and primary schools in South Africa.

The popularization of Chinese lies in many advantages. First of all, Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. Secondly, the Chinese characters which have been improved for nearly 3 000 years have its cultural power and artistic charm. Thirdly, China unswervingly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and upholds peace and development. The friendliness of the Chinese people makes the various peoples close to China, Chinese people and Chinese language and culture. Fourthly, the success of the reform and opening up in China aroused the interests of the peoples all over the world. Deep understanding China relies on the Chinese learning. Fifth, Chinese has a dominant position in one's economic life. Mastering Chinese language skills means the superiority in employment and income. I firmly believe that Chinese will be taught in more and more South African tertiary institutions and that more and more South Africans will be keen on learning Chinese.

In order to stimulate the interests and enthusiasm of foreign students to learn Chinese and deepen their understanding for Chinese language and culture, the "Chinese Bridge" - Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students - was launched by the Office of Chinese Language Council International in 2002. Five competitions with various themes were held in Beijing, China. The 6th "Chinese Bridge" - Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students with the theme of "China Welcomes the Olympics" - is also to be held in China in August of 2007. In sixty competition areas of over fifty countries and regions all over the world, 100 winners are to be selected to showcase their excellent Chinese proficiency and their youth vigour in China. After 2003, five South African candidates participated in the final rounds and obtained good results. In this competition, of ten candidates, first two winners are to attend the finals on behalf of South Africa. The Chinese government will offer the trip and accommodation. Luck and honour are waving to you all.

Besides, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Office of Chinese Language Council International, to donate two hundred Chinese textbooks to the University of South Africa this year. Moreover, the Chinese government will provide further financial support for the Chinese teaching in South Africa.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

On the giant placard of the entrance, I read the words of the former President Nelson Mandela: "Education is most powerful weapon you can use to change the world." Language teaching is one of part of education and is also a powerful weapon to change the world. Let's make joint efforts to promote the Chinese teaching in South Africa to diversify culture on the globe.

Thank you.