- Programme Director;
- China Foreign Affairs University President Dr. Wang Fan;
- China Foreign Affairs University Vice President Dr. Sun Jishen;
- Academia and Scholars.
On this occasion of academic celebration, I offer the full acknowledgement and gratitude to the China Foreign Affairs University professors, lecturers and all who are instrumental in their contribution to both the academic and diplomatic achievements of the China Foreign Affairs University.
The extensive track record of the China Foreign Affairs University in fostering global leaders since its founding in 1955, is a fountain-head and prime source of excellence for China’s foreign services and certainly a driver for world peace and prosperity.
It is my singular honour and privilege to be part of this graduation ceremony and I express my deepest appreciation for the CONFERMENT OF AN HONORARY DEGREE.
Additionally I extend my sincere gratitude to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in South Africa, the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), and the Chinese government for making it possible for me to be here in person.
Today’s academic ceremony is truly a manifestation and testament to the enduring spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
Intellectually, the professors, researchers, lecturers, staff and students of an academic institution, are constantly tested on various levels that require them to stretch the possibilities of the mind.
Engaged in a continuous process of learning, teaching, and discovery, academic faculties must keep up with the latest developments in their field and contribute original knowledge. This too highlights the rigorous physical demands that are also significant in their long hours, months and years of study, research, and teaching – an ongoing balancing act that challenges one to maintain high energy levels.
The historic and contemporary achievements produced by the China Foreign Affairs University and its alumni, is inspirational and serves to renew and reinforce the significance and current relevance of the FIVE PRINCIPLES OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE.
Given its pioneering status as the first Chinese university to offer Diplomatic Studies as a major, and its longstanding tradition of nurturing alumni for key positions in ministries, ambassadorship, consular services, government leadership, academia, and senior professional roles, it is clear why the China Foreign Affairs University is aptly called “The Cradle of Chinese Diplomats”.
It is through this lineage of excellence and diplomacy through which we may find additional guidance. This guidance and mentorship is especially evident in the strong bilateral ties between South Africa and China.
Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1998 between South Africa and China, The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have acted as a guiding light and a handbook to strengthen not only the sectors of foreign affairs but to bolster and invigorate the sectors of economy and trade; science and technology; education and youth development; energy and minerals; social and cultural exchange; and tourism.
In 2021 we congratulated the Communist Party of China (CPC) on the celebration of its 100th Anniversary – a milestone in China’s revolution and development. This exciting chapter in human history, coupled with the recognition of the 70th Anniversary of The Initiation of The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, signifies a renewed internationalism for posterity.
Today’s ceremony and the events marking the 70th Anniversary of The Initiation of The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, are opportune moments to relook at our past and how far we have come, to exchange knowledge and knowhow, and advance the cause of education and youth development at home and worldwide.
In recent years, the world has experienced significant geopolitical changes and challenges that test the strength and resilience of international relations. Our ability to manage rapid evolutions in the social, political and economic realms is further tested by the pace of technology, climate change and threats to human health. Therefore, making meaningful dialogue an essential element in our capacity to reach mutual understanding and address global issues.
Despite the obstacles posed by dominant forces in in the West, South Africa and China have remained committed to bridging cultural gaps, maintaining strong connections, and advancing mutual economic and development interests.
Some seventy years ago, China introduced the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence as a cornerstone of its diplomatic strategy aimed at forging a new international order and fostering global harmony. China was undergoing significant political and economic restructuring while also confronting their own border challenges.
At that time, Africa was entering its own era of national liberation which saw African states making strides in preserving their sovereignty and putting in place more equitable trading negotiations. When African countries started to gain their political independence, the expectation of continued growth, social development, welfare, infrastructure expansion, and economic prosperity, was among the great hopes for the continent.
The world was a different place, and gaining momentum.
In the ensuing seven decades, the global landscape has undergone profound transformations. The founding of the United Nations with 51 predominantly European and Latin American member states occurred amidst widespread colonial rule in Africa and Asia. Today, with 193 member states, the UN reflects a more diverse architecture and framework, yet the established world order, governed by UN principles, faces scrutiny today, particularly as certain Western nations defy and break UN norms.
However, the application and adherence to The Five Principles are often observed in the breach, particularly in terms of trade relations, exacerbated by conflict and trade wars, further casting a shadow over economic stability.
This tension extends to the pharmaceutical sector where the classification of essential medicines based on the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which is the basis for prohibition, and are controlled by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This greatly limits Africa’s and other developing countries’ access to Harm Reduction and life-saving drugs.
Certain fallacies are used within the Convention, to legitimise drug prohibition which lack evidence base science, and instead draw upon myth. These fallacies arbitrarily frame particular substances, such as palliative care morphine, as ‘controlled medicines’, omitting other substances as legal and socially acceptable.
This serves as an example of how global governance can strain diplomatic relations. The imposition of tariffs, sanctions, and geopolitical manoeuvres not only disrupts global trade but also exacerbates human suffering.
Amidst these global barriers, China’s adherence to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence remains a beacon of its foreign policy. Despite these challenges, there are emerging counter-currents that offer hope and alternatives for reconciling these contradictions.
In response, a paradigm shift towards South-South Cooperation is gaining traction. China plays a pivotal role in fostering this cooperation through initiatives such as BRICS, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the China and Africa Think Tanks Forum, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and others.
Last year, the Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Chen Xiaodong, delivered an address that signified the tenth anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative, which underscores the principles of win-win cooperation and common development. President Xi’s keynote speech unveiled eight major measures designed to bolster high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, resulting in $97.2 billion in commercial contracts. This demonstrates the far-reaching influence and success of the initiative.
Since 2015, South Africa has been in the forefront of African nations in Belt and Road cooperation, aligning it with South Africa’s Economic Reconstruction and Development Plan (RDP).
These Principles are more than diplomatic tenets; they are guidelines for harmony that offers today’s interconnected world a blueprint where every nation can thrive.
To integrate these Principles into personal and community life, we must internalize and allowing them to guide our personal conduct and aspirations, and in so doing we lay down the groundwork for a society that values peace over conflict.
Once again, I express my sincere thanks for this honour as a recognition not just of past achievements between South Africa and China, but of a journey to be continued.
Thank you.
