Official invitation to the China-South Africa Youth Exchange event

On June 16, 2026 (local time), the launch event for the new book A Shared Future: Xi Jinping and China-South Africa Relations: The Gen Z Youth Perspective and the “China-South Africa Youth Exchange Night” was held in Pretoria, South Africa. Lwandile Mlanjeni, an outstanding South African alumnus of Zhejiang Industry & Trade Vocational College (ZJITC), was invited to attend the event.

The high-profile event brought together Wu Peng, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa; Mapaseka Steve Letsike, Deputy Minister for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency of the Republic of South Africa; heads of the China-South Africa Youth Federation; and youth representatives. A key highlight of the event was the official launch of the new book Xi Jinping and China-South Africa Relations: The Gen Z Youth Perspective, co-authored by South African young scholars Michael Andisile Mayalo and Thabiso Mthembu. Written from the perspective of South African youth, the book explores China’s development path and the achievements of China-South Africa relations, reflecting the attention and thoughtful engagement of a new generation of South African youth with  international affairs and bilateral ties.

Lwandile Mlanjeni appointed as a member of the Advisory Committee of the China-South Africa Youth Forum

As a key member of the China-South Africa Youth Federation and a young entrepreneur deeply engaged in bilateral trade and commercial exchange, Lwandile Mlanjeni was invited to participate in this major event. During the event, he listened attentively to the keynote address delivered by Ambassador Wu Peng. In his speech, Ambassador Wu stated that the Chinese Embassy in South Africa will continue to keep the door to cooperation wide open and fully support South African youth in seizing the opportunities of the times in such areas as zero-tariff exports, two-way trade and investment, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and South Africa. He further pledged that the embassy will help build access to international market and strategic cooperation platforms for South African youth entrepreneurship, thereby contributing to the shared economic growth of both countries.

Lwandile Mlanjeni and his team winning the Gold Award at the World Vocational College Skills Competition

Lwandile Mlanjeni attending the opening ceremony of the China-South Africa Youth Entrepreneurship Matchmaking Event

Lwandile Mlanjeni at an exhibition

Lwandile Mlanjeni delivering a classroom presentation

Lwandile Mlanjeni participating in a football match

Lwandile Mlanjeni singing the Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower” with classmates at the graduation ceremony

Lwandile Mlanjeni at his graduation thesis defense

During his time at ZJITC, Lwandile systematically studied business and trade, and actively participated in a wide range of activities organized by the college, including China-foreign youth exchanges, cross-border trade practice programs, and skills competitions. After graduating and returning to South Africa, he has consistently served as a youth ambassador bridging the two countries, devoting himself to China-Africa trade and youth exchange. Through his active participation in various bilateral exchange programs under the China-South Africa Youth Federation, he has continuously promoted reciprocal visits by young entrepreneurs from both countries and facilitated the matching of trade resources. Through these concrete actions, he has put into practice the book’s core message that young people should take the initiative in participating in bilateral cooperation and jointly build and share a better future.

ZJITC has always attached great importance to cultivating internationally minded talent and nurturing young ambassadors of friendship between China and other countries. Going forward, the college will continue to leverage its strengths in international education, build more platforms for dialogue among young people from China and abroad, and encourage both current international students and returned alumni to serve as youth envoys of friendship and communication. In doing so, the college will contribute to deepening people-to-people ties and expanding pragmatic cooperation between China and African countries.