As government bigwigs, diplomats, academics and scholars raised a glass to toast the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China – now the world’s second-largest economy – Chinese ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng, on Thursday reminded the formally and colourfully-dressed audience in Pretoria that 70 years ago, China could not produce a single car. According to Wu, watches, bicycles and sewing machines – nicknamed “the big three” – were the only luxury items seen by Chinese people “for quite a long time”. “In 1949, China’s per capita national income was only $27 [about R450].
“Our economic output was less than 5% of the world’s total,” Wu said. ‘Huge changes for China’ But the past 75 years witnessed “huge changes for China”. “The Communist Party of China united and led Chinese people of all ethnic groups to work diligently down the path of Chinese modernisation,” said Wu.
“Together, we achieved rapid economic development and longterm social stability. ALSO READ: US moves to bar Chinese, Russian tech from connected vehicles “I want to express my sincere gratitude to friends from all communities who have long cared about and supported China’s development and China-South Africa relations. I also wish to extend festive greetings to all fellow Chinese working, studying and living in South Africa.
“In 2023, China’s per capita national income reached $13 000 and our economic output reached 17% of the world�.