Speech by H.E. Ambassador Zhou Jian at the Reception to Celebrate the 75th National Day of the People's Republic of China
2024-09-20 07:39

Your Excellency President Katonivere,

Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Prasad,  

Your Lordship Justice Salesi Temo,

Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament,

Members of the diplomatic corps,

Members of the Chinese community,

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Bula Vinaka!

Thank you for being here with us tonight to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. First, please allow me to extend a warm welcome to all the guests, and my best wishes to members of the Chinese community in Fiji, representatives from Chinese businesses, Chinese teachers and students.

These past 75 years have been extraordinary. China has risen from the ashes of war to become a thriving country dedicated to peaceful development. The 1.4 billion Chinese people are working in unity and confidence for national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization.    


Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

As you may know, last month, Prime Minister Rabuka paid a state visit to China. This historic visit opened up a new chapter in China-Fiji relations. Prime Minister Rabuka travelled across 2,000 kilometers, from the hilly southwest to the coastal east, from remote villages to the capital city of Beijing. Today, let’s follow his footsteps to get a glimpse of the remarkable journey that China went through over the past 75 years.  

You will witness the achievements of the Chinese people’s fight against poverty. Prime Minister Rabuka went to two villages in Malipo county, Yunnan province, one of the remotest places in China. In the past, there were no roads from the village to the county. Per capita income of the villagers was a mere 35 US dollars in 1992. They lived in crumbling houses with almost nothing but leaking roof and bare walls. To turn things around, the government invested 35 million US dollars in 700 projects for education, healthcare and industry development over 30 years. These efforts paid off. The villages today have taken on an entirely new look. Every family has a two-story house, equipped with roads leading out of the village. Their income has significantly increased for a better life. Prime Minister Rabuka was so impressed. He congratulated Chinese leaders on their success and kept making notes on China’s experience in poverty alleviation throughout his trip. In fact, Malipo is just one of the countless success stories in China. As President Xi Jinping proudly announced, China has eradicated absolute poverty once and for all. Around 9.9 million people in rural areas have been lifted out of poverty. That is indeed a miracle.      

You will marvel at the speed of technological development in China. Prime Minister Rabuka visited Xiamen Port, the world’s 13th largest container port; he went to CATL, the world's largest EV battery producer; and he toured a waste-to-energy facility, which manages 3,000 tons of garbage daily and generates nearly 400 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually. His comments were, we’ve all seen the industrial revolution, but in China I’ve seen the technological revolution. What Prime Minister Rabuka saw was the outcome of China’s strategy of innovation-driven development. There are many more examples of this. If you look up the sky, China’s ChangE-6 probe brought back the world’s first samples from the moon’s far side. If you look back on earth, Chinese hotels are staffed with humanoid robots for food delivery. Things are developing so fast in China that new innovations are emerging every day.   

You will feel the warmth and friendliness of the Chinese government and people. Everywhere Prime Minister Rabuka went, he was received with great hospitality. Everything was arranged according to the protocol of the highest-ranking visit. Prime Minister Rabuka was greatly touched. He said, China is the most reliable friend of Fiji. Right now, China has big ship and Fiji only has small ship; China has steel ship and Fiji only has wooden ship, but what we have in common is friendship. The Prime Minister and his delegation sang the traditional song Isa Lei on multiple occasions to bid farewell to their Chinese friends. This heart-warming moment testifies to the strong bond between China and Fiji, which is an example of the friendship between China and pacific island countries. For them, China has long been a good friend and partner. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China has been expanding cooperation with pacific island countries and providing assistance without any political strings attached. There are many examples: over 100 China-aid projects, 200 batches of assistance supplies, training courses for 10 thousand attendees, and medical teams that have treated 260 thousand patients. Just as President Xi Jinping said, China and Fiji both belong to the Global South. China is ready to help Fiji and other pacific island countries cope with climate change, and strengthen development cooperation with them to make the Pacific an ocean of peace, friendship and cooperation.

You will see that China is on the right path of development. Prime Minister Rabuka made a tour to the Museum of Communist Party of China, where he learned how the Party led the Chinese people through the struggle for national independence, people’s liberation and national rejuvenation. He wrote: Congratulations on your great journey and achievements when you have not left anyone behind. Well done to your leaders and all people. Long live the China-Fiji friendship! What I want to highlight is, what China has done is an illustration of the common endeavour of developing countries for modernization. The key to China’s success is that we have the leadership of the Communist Party of China, that we have found a path suited to our national conditions. It’s a path that has proven to be successful. It’s a path that we will stick to.


Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

This is my second year as the Chinese ambassador to Fiji. As a Chinese saying goes, it is better to travel 10 thousand miles than to read 10 thousand books in order to learn about the world around you. Over the past year, I’ve been to towns and villages in Viti Levu, visited the beautiful Vanua Levu, and talked with friends from Taveuni, Kadavu and Lau. I’m glad to see that with the joint efforts of the two peoples, we have achieved a lot in China-Fiji relationship.

We have clear maps for bilateral cooperation. Last year, President Xi Jinping had a historic meeting with Prime Minister Rabuka in San Francisco. This year, the two leaders met again in Beijing and laid out the roadmap and timetable for China-Fiji relations. Hon. Deputy Prime Minister Kamikamica attended the China International Import Expo. Hon. Maciu Nalumisa, Hon. Pio Tikoduadua, Major General Kalouniwai and many others visited China. China’s high-level officials for international development cooperation and public security visited Fiji and signed MoUs for cooperation.

We have concrete results of mutually-beneficial cooperation. The Vanua Levu Road Upgrade project is well under way. Suva aquatic center and hockey center have been renovated with assistance from China. Juncao, or the Chinese grass of happiness, transformed the lives of many. China-aided solar lights and energy systems light up Fiji’s roads and houses. Fiji has given China firm support when it comes to our sovereignty and territorial integrity.  

We have frequent people-to-people exchanges. A second delegation of Fijian chiefs went to China to study its experience in poverty alleviation. Many Chinese provincial delegations arrived in Fiji to explore new areas for cooperation. Chinese government scholarships and training programs provide Fijians with opportunities for capacity building. The Brightness Action helps cataract patients restore eyesight. The Chinese Bridge Competition and International Chinese Language Day open a window into Chinese culture. Today’s photo exhibition of bridges gives you a taste of China’s strength in infrastructure.


Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of China-Fiji diplomatic relations. Over 50 years, the seedling of China-Fiji friendship has grown into a towering tree. Standing at the new starting point, I hope that Chinese and Fijian people will work together for this tree of friendship to bear more fruits that benefit our two countries and peoples.

First, we should enhance political mutual trust. China fully respects the sovereignty and independence of Pacific island countries, fully respects their will, fully respects their cultural traditions and fully respects their effort to seek strength through unity. China appreciates Prime Minister Rabuka’s reiteration of the one-China principle. We believe that Fiji will continue to observe the one-China principle, and that we will continue to support each other in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Second, we should strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation. As the biggest developing country and a member of the global south, China will continue to share opportunities with the world and contribute to global development. We will expand practical cooperation with Fiji under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, so as to bring more benefits to the Fijian people and help Fiji achieve sustainable development and national revitalization.

Third, we should promote people-to-people exchanges. Amity between the people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. China will continue to send art troupes and medical teams, and provide Chinese Government Scholarships. This will serve to promote cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between our two peoples. China is ready to work with the Fijian side to launch direct flights between Chinese mainland and Fiji as soon as possible. By doing so, more Chinese tourists will be attracted to Fiji, which will contribute to your economy. Fijians are welcome to visit China and explore what this big country has to offer.

Fourth, we should work together to build a community with a shared future. While we are enjoying this beautiful night, many people elsewhere in the world are suffering from wars and conflicts. China and Fiji are both peace-loving countries. We need to work together to address global challenges, to replace division with unity, confrontation with cooperation, exclusion with inclusiveness, and zero-sum game with win-win cooperation, to bring stability to the turbulent world. 


Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

Today, we are privileged to have here with us the Fiji national rugby team. My congratulations to them for wining another medal at the Olympics, with their perseverance and hard work. In that same spirit, China-Fiji relationship will continue to scale new heights in the next 50 years to come.

Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses, and join me in a toast,

To the prosperity of the People’s Republic of China,

To the friendship between China and Fiji,

To the health of all the guests,

Cheers!