(28 September 2009)

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good evening!

The year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. We are so happy to gather together with all our friends present here celebrating this auspicious occasion. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town, I would like to express my warm welcome to all of you and extend my deep gratitude for the contributions you've made to the Sino-South African friendship.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the past 60 years, especially in the past 3 decades since the Reform and Opening up, China achieved tremendous progress. China's GDP has increased by twenty fold from US$216.5 billion in 1978 to US$4.3975 trillion in 2008, enabling it the 3rd largest economy in the world. The total rural population under the poverty line has dropped from over 250 million to about 14.79 million. With unremitting efforts ,the Chinese people have turned a war-worn and war-torn,poor and undeveloped country into a stable,peaceful and relatively prosperous and powerful one. China has managed to feed 22% of the world's population on only 9% of its arable land,which is a remarkable contributing factor to world peace and development. As one of the biggest emerging market, China has become an increasingly important driving force for the global economic increase. It is predicted that China may contribute 50% to the worldwide growth in 2009. On the other hand, we are fully aware that as a developing country,China ranked below 100 in terms of per capita GDP.

The world is now at a crucial juncture in its efforts to tackle the impact of the international financial crisis, so is China. To counter the impact of the international financial crisis and maintain a steady and relatively fast economic growth, the Chinese government has taken timely measures by adjusting macro economic policies, adopting a proactive fiscal policy and a relaxed monetary policy and formulating a package plan of 4 trillion RMB to expand domestic demand for economic growth. The package plan is paying off. The first half of this year saw an increase of 7.1% of China's GDP.

We are committed to the theory that development is of paramount importance. At home, we will continue to attach great importance to environment protection, social fairness and justice in order to build a harmonious society. Internationally, we will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace development, unswervingly follow a win-win strategy of opening up and dedicate ourselves to building a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2009 marks the 11th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and South Africa. Since the forging of the strategic partnership in 2004, China-South Africa relations have been deepening and expanding far and wide on all fronts, and the friendship and trust between our two peoples have been further enhanced. Our bilateral cooperation in all fields at all levels has made great headway. High-level visits between our two countries have been conducted frequently, and the bilateral consultative and cooperative mechanism has been run smoothly. In January 2009, Chinese foreign Minister Yang Jiechi paid an official visit to South Africa. On September 17, the second Sino-South African Strategic Dialogue was successfully convened in South Africa.

During the first half of 2009, it is not easy for our bilateral trade to remain stable due to the global financial crisis. Trade volume with China now accounts for 11.94% of South Africa's total. China has become South Africa's largest trading partner, South Africa is China's largest trade partner in Africa.

The exchanges between our sister provinces and sister cities have also witnessed rapid progress. In July, an economic and trade delegation led by Vice Governor Wang Junmin from Chinese Shandong Province paid a successful visit to Western Cape. A few days ago, the mayor of Cape Town, Mr. Dan Plato just concluded a fruitful official visit to China. These exchanges have promoted the friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2010 will see the World Soccer Cup in South Africa and World Expo in Shanghai of China, I'm reluctant to say, Chinese men's soccer team is disqualified, but I'm resolute to say, China is in play. Thousand upon thousand Chinese spectators would come to cheer up the World Cup, a genuine cheer-up of the World Cup without any precondition. Shanghai World Expo will start from May 1st and end on October 31st, with a participation of over 240 countries or regions and expected 70 million visitors. People from all over the world will showcase their own brand names and culture. I wish both world events a great success.

In retrospect, we have been through a hard but fruitful year. In foresight, the international financial crisis we will survive; In prosperity and harmony we will thrive.

Ladies and Gentlemen, now I would like to propose a toast,

To the prosperity of China and South Africa,

To the happiness and friendship of our two Peoples,

To the health of all the guests present here,

Cheers!