Your Excellency Mr. Jean Mfasoni, Special Representative of the AUC Chairperson,
Your Excellency Mr. Tsegab Kebebew, Representative of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,
Distinguished Ambassadors, Representatives of International organizations,
Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening!
I would like to express my delight for having all of you with us here tonight in the celebration of the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. From the outset, on behalf of Ambassador Tan Jian, the Chinese Mission to the African Union and the Chinese Embassy to Ethiopia, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all and extend my sincere gratitude to you all for your continuous support in developing the cooperation between China and the African Union and in further enhancing the relations between China and Ethiopia.
This year marks the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China as well as the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. With your permission, I would like to highlight some of China's achievements:
- Over the past four decades, China's national power has increased substantially, and China has improved the lives of its people remarkably. China has become the world's largest manufacturing country, the largest exporter of goods, the biggest holder of foreign exchange reserve and the second largest economy in the world.
- Over the past four decades, China has averaged an annual GDP growth rate of 9.5% and its annual contribution to the world economy is up to 18.4%. More than 700 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty. All these indicate China's great success of development, which is unprecedented in human history.
We are all hopeful that these achievements become meaningful for the world at large. In this context, last October, the Communist Party of China held its 19th National Congress successfully, mapping out a grand blueprint for China's future development. We are confident to build China into a comprehensive well-off society by 2020 and a modern strong socialist country by the middle of this century.
Despite a host of difficulties and challenges in economic development, China's economy expanded by 6.8% in the first half of this year, staying within the medium-high growth range. The Chinese economy has stayed on the track of steady progress, with growing new drivers and sound fundamentals. China firmly believes that the rules-based multilateral trading system is the bedrock of economic globalization and free trade, and provides important safeguards for win-win outcomes.
In the next 15 years, China will import 24 trillion US dollars worth of goods and attract two trillion US dollars of overseas direct investment, while its total overseas investment will reach two trillion US dollars. China's contribution will inevitably add new and strong impetus into the world economy.
Meanwhile, China is firmly committed to a new type of international relations and cooperation, and is ready to work with Africa to build a China-Africa Community with a shared future featuring joint responsibility, win-win cooperation, happiness for all of us, as well as joint cultural prosperity, and create common security and harmony between mankind and nature.
While celebrating the development achievements of China, we have every reason to believe that African countries, with similar historical situations, rich natural resources and diligent people, could also explore a development path, which is suited to their own national conditions and build Africa into a peaceful, prosperous and integrated continent. We are fully convinced that African people are capable of doing what China has achieved over the last decades and we are more than ready to genuinely cooperate to that end!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
I have been working in Africa for nearly 15 years before I assumed the duty as the Head of the Chinese Mission to the African Union. Upon my arrival in Addis Ababa, I am deeply impressed by the ever-growing friendship between China and Africa and the vitality and potential for China-Africa relations. I am honored and more than pleased to make my contribution to the development of China-AU partnership and China-Africa relations.
As good friends, good partners and good brothers China and Africa are also closely working together to make progress in their development endeavors. Over the past years, China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership has developed rapidly and in an all-round manner.
The FOCAC Beijing Summit held early this month mapped out a new blueprint for the development of China-Africa cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the Beijing FOCAC Summit that China will launch eight major initiatives in collaboration with Africa, covering industrial promotion, facility connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, health care, people-to-people exchanges and peace and security. To that end, China will provide 60 billion US Dollars as financial support to Africa by 2021.
In the spirit of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith China welcomes and supports African countries to join in the express train of China's development for a win-win cooperation and common development.
China-AU partnership, as an integral part of China-Africa relations, is gaining new momentum. We are holding mutual high-level exchanges frequently. This year marks two successful visits by H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AUC, to China. Both China and the AU have been working closely on infrastructure, public health, peace and security, capacity building as well as international affairs, and achieved tangible and fruitful results.
The Chinese Government welcomes and supports an increasingly important role of the AU in Africa's peace, stability and development agenda and stands ready to create more synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative, Agenda 2063, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and all other development strategies across the continent, in order to contribute to the unity, solidarity and integration of the African continent.
Ethiopia is China's important partner in Africa. China and Ethiopia have taken this longstanding friendship to an all-round strategic partnership. China and Ethiopia respect each other and trust each other. Economically we have a lot to offer each other. China has been Ethiopia's eminent trading partner, top investor and project contractor. Ethiopia is one of the front-runners in Africa to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and Ethiopia in cooperation with Chinese companies has realized some of the projects that would be the backbone of the economy. The China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic partnership has made great strides, bringing tangible benefits to our two peoples.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Please allow me to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our Chinese compatriots working and living in Ethiopia, ranging from doctors of the Chinese medical teams, teachers in the Confucius Institutes, workers at the construction sites and the staff members of Chinese companies. Your hard work deeply impresses me. Every-one of you comes to Africa, works for Africa, passes on the goodwill of the Chinese people to Africa, and jointly writes a new chapter in the ever-growing China-Africa friendship and partnership.
There is a Chinese proverb, which goes like this: "Promise must be kept and action must be resolute." The Chinese Government and people will stand together and work closely with Africa for mutual benefit and common prosperity. China will always continue to be Africa's true friend and reliable partner. Africa and China should join hands to build an even closer community of a shared future and strive for our brighter tomorrow.
To conclude, may I propose a toast!
To the 69th anniversary of the People's Republic of China,
To the prosperity of China and Africa as well as the happiness of Chinese and African peoples,
To the bright future of China-AU and China-Ethiopia relations,
To the health of all distinguished guests present,
Cheers!