Your Excellency Major General (Ret'd) Jioji Konrote, President of the Republic of Fiji ,

Honorable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Acting Prime Minister,

Honorable Dr. Jiko Luveni, Speaker of the Parliament,

Honorable Ministers and Members of the Parliament,

Excellencies and members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Chinese community and enterprises representatives,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ni Sa Bula Vanake. A very good evening to you all!

October 1st this year marks the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Tonight, it is a great honor and pleasure for me and my colleagues to have all our distinguished guests join us to celebrate this great day of the Chinese Nation. First of all, please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, to extend warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the distinguished guests present here tonight.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China 67 years ago, under the leadership of Chinese Communist Party, the Chinese people have been striving hard against all odds to make the country strong and prosperous. We have made spectacular achievements and have accomplished just in a few decades time what has taken other countries several hundred years to achieve. China is now the world’s second biggest economy, the biggest trader of goods, the third largest direct oversea investor, with GDP exceeding 10 trillion US dollars and per capita GDP reaching nearly 8000 US dollars, contributing over 25% to the global economic growth.

In recent years, in face of the intricate global economic environment and economic downward pressure, the Chinese government steadfastly deepens reform in an all-round way with the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.While pursuing the innovation-driven development strategy and sustainable development strategy, the Chinese government vigorously pushes forward supply-side structural reform and has made tremendous efforts in cutting excess capacity, adjusting economic structure and stabilizing economic growth. In the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 6.7%. Its industrial upgrading and structural adjustment picked up pace, the household income grew steadily. China has reached a new historical starting point and is making steady progress towards the goal of realizing the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We have the confidence that we are able to accomplish the first goal of the Two Centenary Goals, that is, to double the 2010 GDP and per capita income of urban and rural residents, and complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China steadfastly follows the path of peaceful development and plays an active part in safeguarding world peace and promoting development. China is committed to common prosperity through mutually beneficial cooperation. China’s development will bring more public goods to the international community. The initiative of building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, also known as One Belt One Road Initiative, proposed by President XI Jinping provides opportunities for countries along the Belt and Road to share China’s development outcomes and achieve common prosperity.

China stays committed to green, low-carbon and circular development and has taken effective measures in mitigating and adapting the Climate Change. Recently, the Standing Committee of China’s National People's Congress rectified the Paris Agreement on climate change, which played an important role in pushing for an early entry into force and implementation of the Paris Agreement, and galvanizing global action on climate governance and cooperation.

China actively participates in global economic governance and strives for global economic growth and financial stability. China attaches great importance to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In the recently concluded G20 Hangzhou Summit, China has proposed to build an innovative, open, interconnected and inclusive world economy and has worked for the formulation of the first action plan for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For the first time, the issue of development has been put front and center of the global macro policy framework. Two days ago, while attending the High-Level Meetings of the 71st Session of the UN General Assembly, Premier LI Keqiang chaired the symposium on sustainable development initiated by Chinese government and has led once again the international community to focus on sustainable development agenda. As a responsible developing country, while pushing forward its own sustainable development agenda, China will actively participate in the related international cooperation, and will provide more resources in South-South cooperation to share with the international community our development experiences and opportunities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China and Fiji share profound traditional friendship. The two countries are not only good friends through thick and thin, but also good partners of win win cooperation. Chinese people appreciate Fijian people’s great achievements under the leadership of Hon. Prime Minister Bainimarama, feel thrilled when Fiji Rugby Seven team brought back home the first ever Olympic Gold medal in history and share the same happiness and pride when the first Fijian diplomat won the presidency of the 71st General Assembly of the United Nation which enables Fiji to play a unique role on the world stage.

In February this year after Fiji was hit by the tropical cyclone Winston, the most severe one ever in the south hemisphere, the Chinese government took the lead in providing emergency humanitarian cash assistance and chartered 8 cargo planes to fly over half of the Pacific to deliver disaster relief materials to the people in need, which once again reflected the true friendship between our two peoples.

Since this year, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, the relationship between our two countries has seen further progress with the political, economic, cultural and various other exchanges and cooperation scoring fruitful results. China now is Fiji's third largest trading partner and the biggest source of foreign direct investment. China aid project, Somosomo hydro-electric station has completed its construction and will be soon put into operation. Another China aid project, the reconstruction of Vatuwaqa Bridge and Stinson Parade Bridge has been launched. The agricultural cooperation projects are progressing smoothly. The people-to-people exchanges remain robust. Chinese tourist arrivals keep increasing. China becomes the fastest growing source country for Fiji's tourism. Cultural and sports exchanges have brought our two peoples more closer together. Up to now, 7 Chinese art troupes have performed in Fiji including the Shenzhen Art Troupe who made an amazing performance in Suva Civic Center Auditorium last night. We are pleased that the Shenzhen Art Troupe members have joined us tonight and later I will invite them to perform a few songs and music pieces for us. The Fijian Art troupe “The Kabu ni Vanua Troupe” made a successful tour in China this August, taking the wonderful Fijian culture to the Chinese people. Over the last two days, Chinese U18 women basketball team have played two matches with the Fiji Selection and had a great fun interacting with local students and employees.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China and Fiji are both important countries in Asia Pacific region. We face the common task of development and share a wide range of common interests. We share the same goals in tackling climate change and in implementing the sustainable development agenda. To maintain and strengthen the cooperative relations between China and Fiji conforms to the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples. Chinese government is committed to deepening the bilateral strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. We stand ready to work with our Fijian friends to enhance mutual political trust, promote cooperation of mutual benefits, advance people-to-people exchanges and maintain close coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs so as to add more content to the strategic partnership. I have every reason to believe that with our joint efforts, China and Fiji strategic partnership will achieve new and greater development.

Lastly, I would like to propose a toast,

To the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China,

To the prosperity of China and Fiji, and the happiness of our two peoples,

To the friendship and cooperation between China and Fiji,

To the good health of all our distinguished guests,

Cheers!