Diplomatic relations between South Africa and China

Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between RSA and the PRC
The Year of the Rat (2008) sees the 10th year of formal diplomatic relations between the Republic of South Africa
(RSA) and the People Republic of China (PRC). Formal ties were preceded by unofficial representations between
Pretoria and Beijing in August 1991 where channels of communications were set up by the two capitals. The
unofficial body that was set up in March 1992 was thus known as the South African Centre for Chinese Studies.
Formal diplomatic ties were established on January 1, 1998.

The South African Cultural Event

The first of a series of events aimed at celebrating South Africa's formal diplomatic ties with the Mainland took place on Friday, April 11, 2008
at the swanky Shangri-La Hotel in Kowloon. Guests were treated to (some of the) sounds of South Africa presented by a bevy of talented
performers who were flown over to Asia to participate in the month-long celebration program that will be taking in Shenzen, Hong Kong, Beijing
and ending in Shanghai.
On the bill were: the AfroTenors, who listed one of their milestones having shared a stage will the Maestro himself, the late Luciano Pavarotti.
Next up was Ihashi Elimhlophe, who together with his troupe of musicians and amazing energetic dancers wowed the crowd with the sights
and sounds from the SA townships.
The evening was wrapped up by the Diva, Simphiwe Dana who is best described by the evening's program as "One of South Africa's favorite
daughters... her singing represents modern South African music, with a timeless revolutionary message."

A little piece of home ... in Asia.

HOWZIT HONG KONG !

Relations between the Republic of South Africa & The Peoples Republic of China Home

Celebrations in Hong Kong
As part of the overall 10th Anniversary Celebrations, the SA Consulate-General's Office has arranged a whole week of activities. All functions
listed below will be held at the Shangrila in Kowloon-East and promises to be a week-long celebration of South African culture: friendship,
food, fashion, wine and much, much more!

Here's an abbreviated list of the planned events:
Friday            April 11, 2008        Mini-Concert / SA Cultural Evening
Monday         April 14, 2008        Gala-Dinner
Tuesday       April 15, 2008        Freedom Day
Wednesday April 16, 2008        SA Fashion Show
Thursday     April 17, 2008        SA Wine Tasting

Daughter of Africa... Simphiwe Dana

In full cry... The AfroTenors

South Africa Week Gala Dinner

South Africa Week was launched at a Gala Dinner held at the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel. Special guests on this occasion included SA Ambassador
to China, His Excellency Mr Ndumisa Ndima Ntshinga, the newly-appointed Consul-General at the SA Consulate in Hong Kong, Ms. Nomatemba
(Tembi) Tambo, as well as representatives from various other African Missions in Hong Kong.
Ms. Tambo briefly took to the stage to introduce the Ambassador who jokingly rebutted Ms. Tambo's introduction that called him a "career diplomat."
He rather chose to be introduced as "someone who was just picked up off the streets and asked to do this job!" He went on to say that:

This unprecedented year-long series of events has been endorsed at the highest levels of Government in South Africa. It bears testimony to the
importance that we place on our partnership with China and illustrates the ever- increasing range and depth of political, economic, financial, social
and cultural relations that we enjoy together.

After his speech, Mr. Ntshinga introduced one of the SA chefs who he said "is responsible for the great South African dishes on offer. We want you to
go out and buy SA food and wine, nothing's for free!" he joked about the buffet in the lobby.
Chef Lehan Botha who runs the Legend Hospitality School in Pretoria, then preceded to give what can only be called an in-depth introduction to the
evening's fare. We could clearly see, nay feel, the man's passion for his job. His enthusiasm bubbled over when he explained the careful pairing of
the South African wines with the dishes that he and compatriot Sakhumzi Maqubela from Sakhumzi's Restaurant in Orlando West, Soweto had so
masterfully put together.

Chef Lehan Botha
Talking to a person such as Lehan Botha, one gets a sense of the fantastic opportunity that events such as South Africa Week presents to the
various people who have been invited to Hong Kong by the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Industry and Arts & Culture. Some of them
will take part in similar events in Beijing and Shanghai later this month.
Within seconds of meeting him in the Ballroom of the Kowloon Shangri-La, he was enthusiastically recounting his experiences working with the
local chefs. He told me about the fact that he only had to spend 1 day with the hotel's pastry chef, 'then he just ran with it!' He laughed when he
told me that he was 'lots of kilos' over his airplane luggage allocation because he had to bring over SA goodies such as biltong, biltong powder,
samp/stamp-mielies, rooibos tea, etc. One of the best experiences working with the local chefs, Lehan said, was their eagerness to learn new
recipes, techniques and products. "They're just like sponges... they just want to soak things up!" Well Chef Lehan, that's the great thing about the
Chinese-South African relationship: like we said in the 'old days' ...each one teach one! Thank you for sharing your skills with the locals and your
dishes with us. Dit was fantasties!

Chef Sakhumzi Maqubela

Chef Sakhumzi loves his job! I saw him at the preview of the Fashion Show last night, eagerly snapping
away on his digital camera, all the time clad in his chef's uniform that proudly displays his company's
logo. He's also proud of what he has built in (he proudly tells all who's within earshot) 'the only street that
sports two Nobel Prize Laureates! and where the first person was shot during the Soweto uprising'
Sakhumzi Maqubela is the owner of Sakhumzi's Restaurant that The Sowetan newspaper described as
follows:

If Maqubela & Vilakazi have something in common, it is that they carry on the legacy started by Mandela
& Tutu. And that is what makes Vilakazi Street tick. (Sowetan Tuesday February 7, 2006)

Chef Sakhumzi also loves Asia and the opportunities that abound in the region. In between networking
with the locals and SA expats at last night's function, he pulled me aside to eagerly enquire about local
crockery and coffee-machines.
Who knows, we may just experience Sakhumzi's Restaurant, Hong Kong-Branch in the near future! In
fact, it's probably just a matter of time... because Chef Sakhumzi is a go-getter if you've ever seen one.
En hy maak lekker kos!

South African Freedom Day

Freedom Day celebrates the very first democratic elections held in South Africa on 27 April
1994. Although Freedom Day is celebrated on April 27, it was included as part of SA Week to
commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the RSA & PRC.

Consul-General of the South African Consulate in Hong Kong, Ms. Tembi Tambo was joined by
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang who
used the opportunity to convey the HK Government's best wishes to the people of South Africa.

Chefs Lehan Botha and Sakhumzi Maqubela again provided the South African cuisine and
wine while the entertainment was provided by the models who gave us a preview of the South
African Fashion Show the following evening.

South African Fashion Show

Six of South Africa's finest designers were invited to show off some of the creations to mark
South Africa Week in Hong Kong:

Nkhensani Nkosi        from Stoned Cherrie
Amanda Cherry           from Amanda Laid Cherry
Thula Sindi                   from Thula Sindi
Abigail Betz                  from Abigail Betz Couture
Clive Rundel                from Clive Rundel

Apart from the lekker music that accompanied the models on the catwalk, some of the talking
points on the night included designer Clive Rundel's Mad Max-esque outfits! Although having
said that, he also drew loud applause with his one outfit that spawned THREE jackets from the
'skirt' of one of the models!
Thula Sindi will make us proud later this year when he joins SA fashion guru Gavin Rajah in
representing SA at the Paris Fashion Week (July 2008).
In addition to the SA designs, local jewelery heavyweight Chow Tai Fook also made use of the
opportunity to show off their diamond creations shown off by some of the lankiest Chinese girls
I've ever seen!    Including the Chow Tai Fook proved to be a masterstroke by the organisers of
SA Week because the diamonds (or was it the models?) were also responsible for the big
crowd of local papparazzi on the night.

Picture Montage from SA Fashion Show Click Here or Designers' Profiles Here




		Stoned Cherrie's, Nkhensani Nkosi