Honorable Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni,
Mr. Fan Wen, CEO of Huawei South Africa,
Ms. Peng Yi, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Johannesburg,
Friends from the Media,
Dear Seed Students,
Good afternoon!

It is my great pleasure to participate in the launching ceremony of Huawei's Seeds For the Future program this year. This is the sixth year of Huawei's Seeds For the Future program.

Over the past five years, Huawei has sent 40 South African students to China to join the ICT programs of Seeds For the Future. Many of them have already begun working the field and achieved good results.

Last year with COVID-19, physical travels to China were not arranged, but video training for 50 students was provided virtually.

This year, the Department, together with Huawei has selected all of you, 12 outstanding Seed Students for the program. I was told that you will all get to stay here at the Huawei Office Park for the program for the following week.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to all of our extraordinary Seed Students!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world is indeed witnessing a new generation of booming digital technology, which is bringing about fresh changes in the society and industries, creating new space for human life and expanding new areas of governance.

During COVID-19, the digital economy bucked the trend and became an important driving force of global economic recovery.

According to the World Bank, digital economy now accounts for roughly 15 percent of world GDP, while China’s digital sector is around 39 percent of our GDP.

Not long ago, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative while attending the United Nations General Assembly.

The Initiative focuses on achieving stronger, greener and healthier global development and lists the digital economy as one of the eight key areas of cooperation.

At the just-concluded APEC Summit, President Xi Jinping again emphasized the need to strengthen digital infrastructure, accelerate digital transformation, work to bridge the "digital divide" and promote overall digital development.

President Ramaphosa also attaches great importance to ICT development and digital transformation, and South Africa has made remarkable achievements in expanding the digital economy, in building smart cities, 5G and other infrastructure.

In recent years, under the personal guidance of our two Presidents, the China-South Africa Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has been deepening.

Both sides have maintained good cooperation on the political, economic, scientific and technological, and cultural fronts.

ICT infrastructure and connectivity is an important part of the practical cooperation between our two countries. China and South Africa have great potential and broad prospects for cooperation on this front.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Seed Students,
As a pioneer of 5G technology, Huawei is the world's largest telecom network equipment provider, serving more than 170 countries around the world.

Huawei is an indispensable partner for all countries that want to ride the fourth industrial revolution to achieve innovative development.

Since setting foot in Africa in 1998, Huawei has operated in 54 African countries, covering two-thirds of the continent's population.

Huawei has also worked with more than 220 mobile operators, trained more than 50,000 professionals, and created massive local jobs.

Huawei is also South Africa’s main partner in ICT infrastructure development serving 80 percent of South Africa’s population.

More than 50 percent of Huawei South Africa's employees are local, and Huawei has also been awarded as the best employer in South Africa for many years.

During the pandemic, Huawei has donated a large amount of response supplies and advanced equipment to the South African government and communities.

The Chinese government has all along supported Huawei and other Chinese companies in actively connecting with South Africa’s development strategy and the local communities.

We support Huawei in shouldering due social responsibilities and engaging in win-win cooperation.

For many years, the South African government and especially the DCDT also has given huge support and provided a fair, equitable, open and transparent business environment for Huawei.

President Ramaphosa stressed many times that Huawei is an important cooperation partner for South Africa in 5G.

Your Honorable’s presence today at the event is an important move of strong support for us. We cannot thank you enough for the good support.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Seed Students,
This year marks the centenary of the CPC. China has fully started a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country.

The recent Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee has summarized major achievements and historical experiences of the Party's century-long struggle.

It is the goal of the Communist Party of China to deliver to the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people a better life and to promote human peace and development.

As South Africa’s comprehensive strategic partner sharing a Comrades plus Brothers bond, China will continue to strongly support South Africa in advancing development with the digital economy at the core.

This will be crucial for building new highlights and growth drivers for China-South Africa practical cooperation.
China is ready to work with all other countries, including South Africa, to accelerate 5G application and embrace the fourth industrial revolution.

These efforts will be important for providing new impetus for global economic recovery and delivering a better life for all post COVID-19.

Last but not least, I wish that the Seeds for the Future program will help South Africa discover and empower more and more young talents that are crucial for further ICT development in South Africa.

As soon as COVID-19 protocols allow, all Seed Students are welcome to visit China, so that you will not only be the Seeds in your own professional fields, but also the Seeds for China-South Africa friendship.

May the Huawei "Seeds for the Future" program achieve greater success!

I thank you all!