习近平复信南非德班理工大学孔子学院师生

新华社北京8月18日电　近日，国家主席习近平复信南非德班理工大学孔子学院师生，鼓励他们学好中文，为传承发展中南两国友好事业、促进中非友谊合作贡献力量。

习近平指出，十年前，我见证了德班理工大学孔子学院的成立。我很高兴地看到，经过双方共同努力，两国教育文化交流结出累累硕果，众多南非青年通过学习中文，了解了中国的历史文化，拓宽了职业选择的道路，实现了人生的梦想。

习近平强调，中国和南非都是重要的发展中大国，两国有着同志加兄弟的特殊友谊，学习了解彼此的语言文化，有助于推动两国人民相知相亲、世代友好。欢迎你们在学好中文的同时，多到中国走一走、看一看，更加深入地认识和理解中国，利用所学所思、所见所闻，把一个真实、立体、全面的中国介绍给更多的朋友，努力做传承发展两国友好事业的使者，为促进中非友谊合作、构建人类命运共同体贡献自己的力量。

2013年3月，习近平主席访问南非期间，见证了中南双方签署德班理工大学孔子学院共建协议。成立十年来，南非德班理工大学孔子学院累计培养了近万名学员。近期，该院50名师生联名致信习近平主席，讲述了学习中文的经历、收获和体会，感谢习主席和中国政府为非洲青年追求梦想提供了更多机会，热切期盼习主席再次访问南非。

Xi encourages faculty, students to contribute to China-South Africa friendship, cooperation

In reply to a letter from the faculty and students of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology in South Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping encouraged them to learn the Chinese language well and contribute to carrying forward the China-South Africa friendship and promoting friendly cooperation between the two countries.

In his letter, Xi said that he witnessed the establishment of the Confucius institute 10 years ago and was pleased to see that, through the joint efforts of both sides, the educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries have yielded fruitful results.

A multitude of South African youths have got a glimpse of China's history and culture, increased their career options, and realized their dreams by learning Chinese, he said.

Both important developing countries, China and South Africa have forged a special comradely fraternal friendship. Learning and understanding each other's language and culture contributes to facilitating mutual understanding and cultivating ever-lasting friendship between the people of the two countries, said the Chinese president.

While having a good command of the Chinese language, the teachers and students are welcome to visit China more often and have a deeper understanding of China, share a true, multi-dimensional and panoramic view of China with more friends, and strive to be envoys for inheriting and developing the friendship between the two countries, so as to contribute to promoting China-Africa friendship and cooperation and building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said.

During his visit to South Africa in March 2013, Xi witnessed the signing of an agreement on the joint establishment of the Confucius Institute at Durban University of Technology between China and South Africa.

Since its establishment 10 years ago, the institute has trained nearly 10,000 students. Fifty teachers and students of the institute have lately written a joint letter to Xi, sharing their experience, harvest and feelings in learning Chinese, thanking Xi and the Chinese government for providing more opportunities for African youths to pursue their dreams, and, with eager anticipation, looking forward to Xi's visit to South Africa again.