Johannesburg, Oct 12 (People’s Daily Online) - Being the first one of its kind in South Africa and even in the Africa continent, China-Africa Employee Awards was launched in Johannesburg on Friday.

Just as Charles Manuel, Acting Chief Director of Investment Promotion from Department of Trade and Industry of SA, pointed out, “This initiative is really unique because I am not aware of any other country that show their appreciation in such a special way.”

“This event enables us to find out hundreds of long-term hard-working local employees in Chinese enterprises, and tell their stories.” said RongYansong, Chinese Economic and Commercial Counselor to South Africa,”It’s a sign of high level endorsement for their contribution to cement the relationship between China and South Africa as well as China and Africa.”

South Africa continues to be China’s top investment destination on this continent with the total investment volume from China exceeding 13 billion US dollars, the local staff employed by 120 larger-medium scale Chinese enterprises in South Africa are more than 20,000, representing about 94% of their total employees.

The award process will last for several months, in which local and Chinese judges evaluate and find out the most outstanding local staffs hired by Chinese companies in South Africa.