Hon. Prime Minister Dr. Baldwin Spencer,
Hon. President of Senate Madame Hazelyn Francis,
Hon. Members of the Cabinet,
Hon. Members of the Parliament,
Non-resident Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to China His Excellency David Shoul,
Associate Director of the Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China Senior Colonel Zhang Haifeng and other members of the Band,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Good evening.
In this early evening, I have the great pleasure to have your company here in celebration of the 63rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. I hereby would like to extend, on half of my wife Madame Jiao Fang and other members of the Chinese Embassy in Antigua and Barbuda, the warmest welcome to all the distinguish guests tonight.
I also would like to welcome in particular members of the visiting Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China, who presented a couple of wonderful performances for Antigua and Barbuda people in the past week. If there is anyone here missing their performances by accident, you don't have to worry about it. Later we will have chance to experience closely their consummate skill.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The past 63 years is only a short and small chapter in the Chinese history of more than 5000 years. Nevertheless, it started the process of great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation while posing far-reaching impacts on the rest of the world. Over the past 63 years, the overall national strength of China has experienced a leap-forward increase. Chinese Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen to the second place in the world. China at the same time has created a plenty of investment opportunities and market space for other countries. China takes part in international affairs in a fair, responsible and cooperative manner and jointly responds to various global challenges with other countries. In particular, after the breaking out of the international financial crisis and European sovereign debt crisis, China stuck together with international community in such tough times to tide over the difficulties making critical contribution to stability and recovery of world economy.
On the other hand, China is still a developing country with a big population and a rather weak economic foundation. China's per capita GDP is only 5414 US Dollars ranking the 89th place in the world. There are 128 Million people in China living below the poverty line. China may boast a fairly large economy, but the quality of its economy remains to be improved. Problems of unbalanced, uncoordinated and unsustainable development of China remain challenging.
This year is an important year for further implementing the 12th Five-Year Plan of China. China will continue to accelerate the shift of the economic growth model and adjustment of the economic structure, vigorously protect and improve people's livelihood, and maintain stable and relatively fast economic growth and social harmony and stability. China will stick to its path of peaceful development, remain committed to an independent and peaceful foreign policy, and follow an open strategy of mutual benefit. China will join other countries in the world to make unremitting efforts with a view to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Antigua and Barbuda was the first country in the East Caribbean to establish diplomatic tie with the People's Republic of China. Over nearly 30 years after the establishment of diplomatic tie, the relation of friendly cooperation between China and Antigua and Barbuda maintains rapid development. The bilateral high-level exchanges are close; the political mutual trust deepens; the practical cooperation continues to expand; the people-people and cultural exchanges are increasing; China and Antigua and Barbuda support and coordinate closely with each other on international affairs.
China has been providing economic and technical aid to Antigua and Barbuda to its best ability while sticking to the following principles: firstly, unremittingly helping recipient countries build up their self-development capacity; secondly, imposing no political preconditions; thirdly, adhering to the spirit of equality, mutual benefit and common development; fourthly, remaining realistic while striving for the best; fifthly, keeping pace with the times and paying attention to reform and innovation. The projects aided by China are aiming at improving people's livelihood, creating jobs and revenue and improving tourism environment, which win welcome of Antigua and Barbuda people in general and become key symbols of the friendship between China and Antigua and Barbuda.
China and Antigua and Barbuda will mark the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic tie with each other on January 1st next year. This again reminds us that the achievement of China-Antigua and Barbuda relation did not come easily, which we should cherish particularly. China is willing to take the establishment of diplomatic tie as an opportunity to promote, together with Antigua and Barbuda, the relation of friendly cooperation between our two countries to a new level.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the end of my remarks, I would like to propose a toast:
For the 63rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China,
For the prosperity of the People's Republic of China and Antigua and Barbuda,
For the passing on of the friendship between China and Antigua and Barbuda from generation to generation,
For the good health and happiness of all the distinguish guests tonight and their family.
Cheers!
Thank you.