The Chinese Embassy in Thailand held a reception marking the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on 26th Sept. Ambassador Lyu Jian made a statement at the reception. This is the full text of the statement.
Your Excellency Mr. Chuan Leekpai, President of the National Assembly,
Your Excellency Prof. Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, President of the Senate,
Your Excellency Mr. Wissanu Krea-ngam, Deputy Prime Minister,
Your Excellency Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister,
Your Excellency Mr. Suchart Tancharoen, Deputy House Speaker,
Your Excellency Gen. Singsuek Singphrai, Deputy Senate Speaker,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
Good evening! Welcome to the reception marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
On October 1, 1949, on top of the Tiananmen Gate Tower, President Mao Zedong solemnly proclaimed to the whole world that the People’s Republic of China was founded, and that the Chinese people stood up. The founding of new China opened up a new era in the history of China. From then on, the over 100-year humiliating history of being invaded and enslaved came to an end, and China became a genuinely independent country. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the New China has accomplished, in just 7 decades, what has taken developed countries several hundred years to achieve, and has gone through a tremendous transformation from standing up, to growing rich, and becoming strong, creating a miracle never seen in the human history before.
We have seen earth-shaking changes in China over the past 70 years. With its GDP 1100 times larger than 70 years ago, China is now world’s second largest economy. China had to import even matches and nails in the past, but now it boasts world’s No. 1 industrial output and the most full-fledged industrial system. China has also made remarkable progress in innovative development. The mileage of China’s high-speed rail accounts for 2/3 of the world total. The development of E-commerce in China is leading the world, and cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, AI and new energy are making rapid progress. The living standard of the Chinese people has been greatly improved. We have woven world’s biggest net of medical insurance and social security. The average life expectancy in China has increased from 35 to 77, while the poverty rate decreased from 97.5% to 1.7%. The Chinese people, who are more satisfied and happier, are working hard to pursue even better life.
We have also seen earth-shaking changes in world landscape over the past 70 years. The rise of China gives a strong boost to world peace, fairness, justice and human progress. Today’s China has, for 13 consecutive years, contributed the most to global economic growth. Being the largest trading partner of over 130 economies, and the second largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), China is becoming a major stabilizer and powerhouse of international economy. We stick fast to opening up, conduct high quality Belt and Road cooperation with other countries, and firmly uphold free trade and multilateralism. China is the largest contributor of UN peacekeeping forces among UN permanent members. Holding high the banner of peace, development, cooperation and win-win, we will work with the rest of the world to build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for all mankind, and make new and greater contributions to the world.
All the historical achievements and changes taking place in China over the past 70 years fully prove that only the Communist Party can lead China, only with reform and opening up can we develop China, only the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics suits China most and can guide the Chinese people from one victory to another.
Looking into the future, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Chinese people will keep forging ahead in unison. We will finish the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2020, lifting all out of poverty with no one left behind. We will basically realize socialist modernization in 2035, and become a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful by the middle of the 21st century. This is not only the shared aspiration of the 1.4 billion Chinese people, but also a solemn declaration made by the Chinese people to the whole world. Despite the great vicissitudes around the globe, despite the resurgence of unilateralism and protectionism, and despite the risks and challenges lying ahead, today’s Chinese people are more confident and capable than ever before to overcome all the difficulties and have their own work well done in steady steps. China will never deviate from its course, never slow down its steps, nor will it waver in conducting mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries, and thus will definitely embrace an even brighter future.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
China cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world, nor can the world enjoy prosperity without China. President Xi Jinping, who saw through the trends and rule of the development of the world, put forward the ideas of forging a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, building a global community with a shared future, and conducting Belt and Road cooperation. These are China wisdom and China solutions to the problems the world is now facing. The main partners of the Belt and Road Initiative are China`s neighbors, and they will be the first to benefit from it. China regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. China-ASEAN cooperation has become the most successful and dynamic one among all the other cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. The Chinese side speaks highly of the important role played by Thailand in regional affairs, especially Thailand’s productive efforts and contribution to regional win-win cooperation as this year’s rotating chair of ASEAN. The Chinese side will continue to support Thailand in playing such kind of role in the region. Thailand and China are neighbors enjoying traditional friendship. We have established comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and carried out fruitful cooperation in different fields. This year is of great significance to China, so it is with Thailand, as Grand Coronation Ceremony has been held for His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, and Thailand officially enters the era of Rama X. In two days, President Xi Jinping is going to award Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn the Medal of Friendship in Beijing. This is China’s highest state honor for foreigners, a token of appreciation to the Thai Royalty, and Her Royal Highness in particular, for their long-standing commitment to the development of China-Thailand relations, and a manifestation of the special friendship between China and Thailand.
Both China and Thailand are marching into a new historical stage of development. We must seize the opportunities, enhance high-level exchanges and strategic mutual trust with a broad and long-term vision, and make China-Thailand relations a model to follow when developing relations with other neighboring countries. We should emphasize practical cooperation, and double our efforts to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with Thailand 4.0 and the EEC, so as to elevate the level of cooperation between our two countries. We should highlight our shared aspiration, champion free trade and multilateralism, and deepen coordination on regional and international issues. We should draw upon each other’s strength, promote social, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and win stronger popular support for the further development of China-Thailand relations.
Standing on the new starting point of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese side will work with the Thai side to build a more closely-knit comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, deliver benefits to the two peoples and build a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for all mankind.
Last but not least, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish Chinese compatriots from Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan a happy National Day. I want to say thank you to all the overseas Chinese in Thailand for caring about the development and reunification of the motherland. China’s achievements would not be possible without your support and contribution. My gratitude also goes to our friends from Thailand and other countries who have long been supporting China’s development and China-Thailand friendship.
May I propose a toast to the health of His Excellency President Xi Jinping and His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, and to the ever-lasting friendship between China and Thailand! Cheers! Thank you all!