South Africa at 29: Heading the BRICS from Africa
 
Consul General Mojalefa Mogono delivering opening remarks
 

3 May 2023

The South Africa Consulate General accredited to Hong Kong SAR, PRC and Macao SAR, PRC in partnership with the Chinese University of Hong Kong on 25 April 2023 hosted a very successful and well attended inaugural public lecture in commemoration of the 29 years of South Africa’s freedom and the 25 years of diplomatic relations with China under the title, “South Africa at 29: Heading the BRICS from Africa”.

AFRICA

Remove illegal sanctions against Zimbabawe

Minister Ramakgopa, Ambassador Hamadziripi and Dr Jessica Hamadziripi cutting the celebratory cake - TDS

 

3 May 2023 - TDS

“As South Africa alongside SADC, we remain resolute on our call for the lifting of all sanctions on Zimbabwe. The lifting of sanctions will re-ignite foreign direct investments into the country and normalize Zimbabwe’s relations with the International Financial Institutions. This will be catalytic for the economic transformation and development of the country and promote peace and stability,” said Minister Maropene Ramokgopa, Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in her remarks on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of independence of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

Business
China's Labor Day tourists poised to drive global economic growth

A Chinese tourist takes a selfie with Harin Fernando, the minister of tourism and lands, on March 1, 2023, in Katunayake, Sri Lanka. /CFP

 

2 May 2023
CGTN

The global economy is expected to get a boost from a surge of Chinese tourists travelling abroad as the Labor Day break, one of the country's longest holidays, is unleashing the vast potential of their consuming power following three years of COVID when outbound travel was mostly restricted.

POLITICS
NA Chairman holds talks with MERCOSUR Parliament’s leaders

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (middle) and other delegates in a group photo.
(Source: VNA)

 

VNA

April 28, 2023 

Hanoi (VNA) - National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Gustavo Penadés, President of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) Parliament (PARLASUR), and PARLASUR's vice presidents - Celso Russomanno, Tomas Bittar and Cecilia Britto, in Montevideo, Uruguay on April 27 (Uruguay time), as part of the former’s official visit to Uruguay.

Saudi Arabia Evacuates citizens from Sudan
Evacuees welcomed by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (photo credit: Saudi Foreign Ministry)
 

25 April 2023

The list of countries evacuating their citizens from Sudan is rising as fighting continues in the capital of Kartoum as well as in other areas. Clashes that started on April 15 between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces have left many dead and many more wounded with the conflict still ongoing.

China
Chinese naval vessels evacuating nationals from conflict-hit Sudan

Evacuees wave Chinese national flags when passing the security check area, April 26, 2023. /Photo by Wu Kangci

27 April 2023
CGTN

Two Chinese People's Liberation Army naval vessels have evacuated 678 people from conflict-hit Sudan and arrived at Jeddah Islamic Port in Saudi Arabia on Thursday afternoon. They are now on their way to evacuate the second batch of people from Sudan.

China

China says it always stands on 'side of peace' over Ukraine crisis

26 April 2023
CGTN

China's commitment to standing on the side of peace over the Ukraine crisis has been proved, once again.

During a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday said that dialogue and negotiations are "the only viable way out" for the Ukraine crisis, and that no one wins a nuclear war.

China
Xi Jinping receives credentials from 70 new ambassadors to China

 

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech after receiving the credentials of 70 ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 24, 2023. /Xinhua)
 

25 April 2023
CGTN

Chinese President Xi Jinping received the credentials presented by 70 newly-appointed ambassadors to China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. After the ceremony, President Xi delivered a speech to the ambassadors.

SA, Namibia resolve to deepen trade and investment
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Hage Geingob addressing the media following their Official Talks on the occasion of the State Visit by the President of the Republic of Namibia at the Union Buildings in Tshwane (photo: Siyabulela Duda)

25 April 2023

President Cyril Ramaphosa says Namibia and South Africa will deepen trade and investment ties with a Bi-National Commission (BNC) expected to be held between the countries later this year.

Unity in Diversity – Celebrating Eid

by Anisha Pemjee

Consul General of India in Johannesburg Mahesh Kumar and MEC for Finance of the Free State Kadija Brown at the Eid celebration
 

25 April 2023

A celebration of Eid was hosted by Consul General Mahesh Kumar of India in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event was attended by both the local and expat communities who were treated to delectable cuisine and live entertainment.

Eid marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting and is marked by varying celebrations around the world with friends and family.

Solaris – Commemorating Cosmonautics Day
 
Russian Ambassador Ilya Rogachev with Russian cosmonaut Sergey Kud-Sverchkov at the screening of 'Solaris'
 

24 April 2023

In this month’s series of movie nights, the Russian Embassy in South Africa screened the award-winning movie Solaris. Renowned Russian cosmonaut, Sergey Kud-Sverchkov attended the event and shared with the audience his personal experience about his time in space. He performed his spaceflight in 2020 and spent 185 days aboard the International Space Station as a flight engineer for ISS Expedition 63/64.

CULTURE

Korean traditional knots workshop

Workshop participants showing Kim Youn-Jung the traditional knot they made

 

24 April 2023

KCC

The Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa held a Korean traditional knots workshop on Monday, 17 April. In this workshop, participants had a two-hour experience in making traditional knots, one of Korea's representative gyubang crafts, following along through Zoom with instructor Kim Youn-Jung, the author of "Easy-Making Knot Prop."


© 2011 - 2023 The Diplomatic Society | All Rights Reserved | Website Designed by The Website Hoster