The Chinese Course at the South African Parliament Officially Opens

On March 24, 2025, the opening ceremony of the South African Parliament's Short-term Chinese Course was held at the Marks Building in Parliament. The event was jointly hosted by the South African Parliament and the Consulate General People’s Republic of China in Cape Town, and organized by the Confucius Institute of Chinese Medicine at the University of the Western Cape (CI at UWC). This marks the first time that the South African Parliament has hosted such a Chinese language training course, signifying an important step forward in cultural exchange and cooperation between China and South Africa. 

Mr. Sithole, Director of the International Relations and Protocol Division of the South African Parliament, and Mr. You Wenze, Consul General of China in Cape Town, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. All faculty members of the CI at UWC attended the opening ceremony and witnessed this significant moment together.

Designed by the CI at UWC and tailored to the professional needs of the South African Parliament staff, this four-month program covers essential Chinese language skills, diplomatic and governmental Chinese, as well as traditional Chinese culture. It aims to equip participants with practical Chinese proficiency while providing insights into key cultural elements such as tea art and traditional Chinese medicine.

As the first Chinese language program initiated by the South African Parliament, this initiative not only demonstrates the South African government's commitment to Chinese language education but also marks a new milestone in cultural exchanges between China and South Africa. Looking ahead, both sides will continue to explore further areas of cooperation, working together to elevate China-South Africa relations to new heights.