Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma on Thursday wished members of the Chinese community in South Africa and around the world a happy and successful New Year.
2015 is the Chinese Year of the Sheep, which is a symbol of peace, harmonious co-existence and tranquillity. It also symbolises a period of prosperity.
The celebrations of the Chinese Year of the Sheep commence on 19 February.
“I would like to extend our warmest greetings and wishes to our Chinese compatriots and the people of China in South Africa and beyond our shores.
“In so very many ways, this symbol is important to all South Africans as we contemplate the year ahead and look forward to the promise of harmony, healing and compromise – all attributes in deed of truly great nations as embodied within the Year of the Sheep,” said President Zuma.
He said the Chinese New Year heralds yet another important attribute - a time to nurture, heal and grow.
President Zuma said the attribute of nurturing embodied in the Year of the Sheep further calls on everyone to take time to nurture, to tend and care for South Africa’s young democracy and for each other.
“Heralding a year of prosperity as envisioned by the year of the sheep, we are mindful that social harmony grows best in a good and balanced economy.
“The relations between South Africa and China grow annually in leaps and bounds and we are extraordinarily proud of the warmth of our relations with China, contributing in a significant and powerful way to our two economies to the benefit of both our peoples,” he said.
In 2014 South Africans celebrated the Year of South Africa in China and this year they will celebrate the Year of China in South Africa.
Prseident Zuma said he found it appropriate that the Chinese Year of the Sheep and the Year of China in South Africa coincide.
“Coinciding also with the Year of the Sheep, the African National Congress, the governing party of South Africa, has declared 2015 as the Year of the Freedom Charter and Unity in Action to Advance Economic Freedom.
“The Freedom Charter, which was adopted in 1955 in Kliptown at the Congress of the People meeting, will inform government’s programme of action for the year, including the Year of China in South Africa celebrations,” said President Zuma.
He said relations between South Africa and China are a cause to celebrate and that the year of prosperity contemplated in the Year of the Sheep will outstrip people’s most optimistic expectations.
The President said the enhanced economy stemming from the relations between the two countries will see a year of peace and harmony, which stems from a people whose lives and circumstances continue to improve. - SAnews.gov.za
