South African students feel the passion of Chinese dream

Chinese Embassy in South Africa Tuesday held an open-day event to the public in Pretoria, featuring the theme "Colorful Dream, Common Aspiration." About 200 students from several schools visited the embassy, experienced original Chinese culture, and learned the "Chinese Dream" from a self-included view. "I am very pleased to learn Chinese. Chinese culture attracted me deeply," Precious Khalo, eighth-grade student from Willowridge High School, said. "I never heard about Chinese Dream before, but now I know that it is about the happiness of Chinese people." Khalo also said her dream was to become a doctor in the future, and she wanted to learn in China someday. Ambassador Tian Xuejun, in a keynote speech celebrating the power of dreams for a better future, said that he was born in a mountainous area, and his dream was to be able to see the outside world. Decades later, his footprints have been stepped up over 110 countries. "Dreams are like the light that can lead us to a bright future, " said Tian. He also quoted President Xi Jinping's saying as "People should dare to dream, insist on their dreams, and be diligent to fulfill the dream," to encourage South African youths to pursuit their dreams. School representatives of South Africa thanked the Chinese Embassy to provide young students a valuable opportunity to learn Chinese culture and language, which lay a more solid foundation for their friendship. As educators, they heard about the Chinese Dream and were inspired. The two countries should strengthen academic exchanges and cooperation, which would help students realize their dream and the Chinese Dream, they said. The Open Day is an important annual public affairs event of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa. An official said that the event helped introduce traditional Chinese culture to South African friends and promote the friendship between China and South Africa, and it is fair to say that the Open Day is now a catching brand of the embassy. The guests were students and staff members from South African schools, including Chipa-Tabane Secondary School, Ekangala Comprehensive School, Willowridge High School, Glenstantia Primary School and the Pretoria Chinese School, as well as officials from the South Africa Department of Basic Education. Students looked curiously at the architectural interiors, furniture, paintings and calligraphy, all with Chinese traditional artistic style. Embassy arranged interpreters to introduce stories behind Chinese paintings and art features of Chinese calligraphy for students and other visitors. Geralance Pillay, Willowridge High School representative, said that this event is of great significance for her, so she wore a Chinese style dress to show respect. Pillay, once a 100-meter sprinter in South African national team, worked hard to realize her dream, and wish the hard-working Chinese people to realize their dreams soon. There is a wall of dreams for the youth to write down their dreams, and the guests also can experience Chinese culture through activities such as calligraphy, paper-cutting, Taichi show and a live Chinese lesson. The South African students showed their Chinese skills by reciting Chinese poems and singing Chinese songs.