On 14 April 2023, Ambassador Chen Xiaodong and South African Minister of Social Development Ms Lindiwe Zulu jointly visited the Moretele Municipality of North-West Province to inspect the poverty alleviation work in local villages and attended a donation ceremony.
Ambassador Chen had cordial exchanges with local government officials and villagers, and learned about the local people’s living conditions as well as their access to education and medical facilities. The two sides discussed how to meet the needs for local rural development and how to carry out cooperation in poverty alleviation between China and South Africa. Ambassador Chen and Minister Zulu also visited a local youth care center together and donated a batch of study and living supplies to the center and some local schools.
Ambassador Chen said that China is pursuing the Chinese path to modernization, striving to achieve common prosperity for all its people, and at the same time is committed to promoting common development worldwide. China and South Africa share a special relationship of "comradeship plus brotherhood". China has always supported South Africa's efforts in improving its people's livelihoods and eliminating poverty. China stands ready to strengthen experience exchange and cooperation in poverty alleviation with South Africa and make greater contributions to its economic and social development.
Minister Zulu thanked the Chinese Embassy for its generous donation, and spoke highly of China's support for improving people's livelihood in South Africa. She admired China's remarkable achievements in poverty alleviation, and expressed her readiness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China in poverty alleviation and rural development in South Africa.
Ambassador Chen was warmly received by local government officials and residents, who spoke highly of the friendship between the two countries, thanked China for supporting local poverty alleviation and social development endeavor, and looked forward to learning from China's experience in poverty alleviation.