STORY: Vlog: Discovering Johannesburg, the "Place of Gold"
DATELINE: Aug. 20, 2023
LENGTH: 0:02:20
LOCATION: JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of South Africa
2. STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
3. STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
4. STANDUP 3 (English) : ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
5. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZAKHILE, Gold mine tour guide
6. STANDUP 4 (English): ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
7. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): FIKILE MBALULA, Secretary General, African National Congress
8. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MAROPENE RAMOKGOPA, Minister in Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, South Africa

STORYLINE:

STANDUP 1 (English): ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
"This is Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. It's widely known as the 'Place of Gold.' But what gives rise to this name? The answer lies concealed beneath the surface."

STANDUP 2 (English): ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
"The city of Johannesburg was established in 1886, following the discovery of gold on what had been a farm. Now I'm standing right on top of one of those old gold mines. Join me on an underground tour to explore the history of the 'Place of Gold.'"

STANDUP 3 (English) : ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
"Now I'm in a gold mine shaft that is about 75 meters below the ground. The temperature is only about 11 degrees Celsius. This is where the miners used to exploit and process gold ore."

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZAKHILE, Gold mine tour guide
"Gold was discovered in Johannesburg in 1886. It was discovered by George Harrison from Australia when he came to work here at Farm Langlaagte. That's when there was a gold rush, people from all over the world came here and they settled because of gold."

Over the span of more than a century, Johannesburg has developed from a farm into a metropolis and one of the most developed cities in Africa. It's also the business and financial hub of South Africa.

STANDUP 4 (English): ZHANG ZHIHUAN, Xinhua correspondent
"Today, Johannesburg is not merely a city of gold. It's also a city thriving with golden opportunities presented by global cooperation. Five years ago in this city, (BRICS) leaders charted the course for the second 'Golden Decade' of BRICS cooperation. Now, the city is all geared up for the 15th BRICS Summit and the possibilities it will provide."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): FIKILE MBALULA, Secretary General, African National Congress
"BRICS is very important to the rest of the world, so we'll start something that is of significance in terms of this particular bloc, and that is quite encouraging."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MAROPENE RAMOKGOPA, Minister in Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, South Africa 
"BRICS is a multilateral or plurilateral forum where we discuss issues of trade, but not only trade, but people-to-people relation. I do believe that this is where things are going to be different because we are seeing the solidification of new powers emerging."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Johannesburg, South Africa.
(XHTV)