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Wednesday, July 25, 2018, 11:25
Peng Liyuan visits pre-school in South Africa
By Xinhua
Wednesday, July 25, 2018, 11:25 By Xinhua

Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan (right) visits a day care pre-school in the company of Tshepo Motsepe, her South African counterpart in Utanto community, in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria, South Africa, July 24, 2018. (WANG YE / XINHUA)

PRETORIA — Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and a UNESCO Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls' and Women's Education, visited a pre-school in the South African capital of Pretoria on Tuesday. 

South African children waving the national flags of China and South Africa shouted "welcome, welcome" in Chinese and English 

Peng was accompanied by Tshepo Motsepe, wife of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a representative of the African Self Help Association Trust during the visit.

Scores of South African children waving the national flags of China and South Africa shouted "welcome, welcome" in Chinese and English upon Peng's arrival at Uthando Day Care Pre-school in the east suburb of the capital. 

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The children sang in Chinese An Ode to the Goose, a short poem written in China's Tang Dynasty. Peng applauded their pronunciation and gave the children toys, stationery and books as gifts. 

Peng said children bear upon the future of a country. 

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Moral education is the most important in early education, when the children should be guided to aspire high and cultivate their moral characters, she said. 

Peng also called on the children to carry forward the friendship between China and South Africa when they grow up.

Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan attends the graduation ceremony of a preschool teacher training program and delivers a speech in Pretoria, South Africa, on July 24, 2018. (WANG YE / XINHUA)

Peng also attended a graduation ceremony for pre-school teachers in Pretoria Tuesday. 

The pre-school teachers performed South African songs and dances to welcome the Chinese guests. 

Teaching is a noble profession, Peng said. 

In order to help the children realize their dreams and eventually carry forward the cause of national rejuvenation and prosperity, teachers should always bear in mind the expectations and responsibilities entrusted to them by their country, maintain a high standard of professional and personal ethics, stay benevolent and never give up learning, she said. 

She urged the teachers and students to dedicate themselves to the cause of friendly cooperation between China and South Africa and make contributions to the development of bilateral relations. 

The pre-school teachers training program is undertaken by the African Self Help Association Trust, which has covered thousands of people in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. 

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