新華社北京8月18日電　近日，國家主席習近平復信南非德班理工大學孔子學院師生，鼓勵他們學好中文，為傳承發展中南兩國友好事業、促進中非友誼合作貢獻力量。

習近平指出，十年前，我見證了德班理工大學孔子學院的成立。我很高興地看到，經過雙方共同努力，兩國教育文化交流結出累累碩果，眾多南非青年通過學習中文，了解了中國的歷史文化，拓寬了職業選擇的道路，實現了人生的夢想。

習近平強調，中國和南非都是重要的發展中大國，兩國有著同志加兄弟的特殊友誼，學習了解彼此的語言文化，有助于推動兩國人民相知相親、世代友好。歡迎你們在學好中文的同時，多到中國走一走、看一看，更加深入地認識和理解中國，利用所學所思、所見所聞，把一個真實、立體、全面的中國介紹給更多的朋友，努力做傳承發展兩國友好事業的使者，為促進中非友誼合作、構建人類命運共同體貢獻自己的力量。

2013年3月，習近平主席訪問南非期間，見證了中南雙方簽署德班理工大學孔子學院共建協議。成立十年來，南非德班理工大學孔子學院累計培養了近萬名學員。近期，該院50名師生聯名致信習近平主席，講述了學習中文的經歷、收獲和體會，感謝習主席和中國政府為非洲青年追求夢想提供了更多機會，熱切期盼習主席再次訪問南非。

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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.