Remarks on Chinese National Day Reception
----For the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China
Sheraton Hotel, Doha
Ambassador Yue Xiaoyong
Sept, 30, 2009
Y. E. Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari,
Excellencies and Hon. Guests,
Colleagues and Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Saleem Alakom. May I thank you heartily for joining us in this wonderful evening celebrating the Chinese National Day, always a happiest day for our people.
October 1st 60 years ago in 1949, New China, the People's Republic of China, was born. It is a continuation of China with 5000 years of civilization and her reincarnation for a new start. This year's anniversary is more special. 60 years in the Chinese tradition is a complete macro-lunar cycle of time. This moment symbolizes grant accomplishments achieved and promises for an even brighter future in store.
Over the past 60 years, owing to unremitting joint efforts of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, our great country has achieved giant leap forward in her modernization drive. She has been transformed from a weak semi-feudal and semi-colonial "Sickman in the East" into a free, happy and strong one matching steadily and surely for common prosperity. We enjoy respect and friendship around the world.
Opening up and reform has brought new changes every year. China's development is seen as one of the fastest among all nations for decades. We now rank first in export in the world, second in total trade and third in national GDP. Our people's average life expectancy has increased to 71.8 years from 33 years before New China. The contribution that China's economic expansion made to the world growth exceeded 20 percent in 2008. We have done and will continue to do our part in fighting global financial crisis with closer cooperation of all partners. China is able to achieve 8% growth this year, which is certainly another fresh contribution to the world recovery from fighting the worst financial crisis we have never seen in most of us' life time.
China remains however a developing country with a long way yet to go for a fully modernized nation. Our per capita income still stays below 100 in the world. Tens of millions of people are living in or below one dollar a day. Medical and health-care services and social security system are calling for fresh efforts to fix and enhance. We need to create millions of jobs every year. Our science, technology and education level should be substantially raised with sustainable investment. China wants more than any others long term stable development at home and lasting world peace and security in the region and the world.
Looking ahead though, we are fully confident to fulfill our mission for a more prosperous country with a harmonious society. Under wise, far-sighted leadership of our great country and with efforts of 1.3 billion hard-working Chinese people of 56 nationalities, China is determined to overcome difficulties and challenges to achieve more and greater. We will continue to carry out reforms and opening up endeavors. We will actively promote friendly relations and cooperation with our friends and partners around the world on the basis of Five Principle of Peaceful Co-existence. We will unswervingly keep on the path of peaceful development and join hands with peoples in international society to build the world into a harmonious one of enduring peace and common prosperity.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Sino-Qatari relationship has enjoyed rapid development over the past 21 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties. I would like to take this opportunity to thank H.H. the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and his government for their trusted efforts with leaders of China to give this relations brilliant leadership and visioned guidance. We deeply admire Qatar's fast and stable economic and social development. We highly appreciate Qatari government for holding firmly one China policy and support our peaceful reunification efforts. We have seen all these years between us an ever deepening political trust, upgrading economical and energy cooperation and widening exchanges in political, economic, cultural, educational and many other fields. We indeed look forward to a continuous strengthening of our friendship and cooperation in the years to come.
Friends and distinguished guests,
This is a most joyful and glorious moment, let me thank you for giving my embassy and me all the help and assistance, and wish a merriest festival season with most happy and prosperous future.
Thank you.