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Hon Tim Groser, Minister of Trade, Minister of Conservation,
Hon. Pansy Wong, Minister for Ethic Affairs, Minister of Women's Affairs
Hon John Banks QSO, Mayor of Auckland City,
Mr. Michael Lee, Chairman of the Auckland Regional Council,
Mr. Raymond Huo, Member of Parliament,
Mr. Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere City,
Mr. Arthur Loo, Chairman of the Auckland Chinese Community Centre,
Colleagues of Consular Corps
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Evening! And welcome to the reception in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Sixty years ago, the Chinese people won independence and liberation after a prolonged hard struggle and became masters of the New China. Thirty years ago, the Chinese people started the historic journey of reform, opening up and socialist modernization. Since then, the Chinese society has shown unprecedented vigor and creativity. China's national strength has grown remarkably and the people are better off. China's development has contributed greatly to peace and development of the world. In 2008, the total import and export of China reached US$2.56 trillion, ranking the third in the world. China's foreign currency reserves has reached US$2.13 trillion, topping the world record. China is now the third largest economy in the world after the US and Japan.
History serves as the basis for further advance and provides inspiration for the future. We are keenly aware that China remains a developing country. The difficulties and problems we encounter are rarely seen in both scale and complexity. We have a long way to go before we can meet the target of building a well-off society in all respects that benefits over a billion people, and then achieving modernization and common prosperity for all. Bearing in mind our national conditions, we will continue to be committed to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, focus on economic development, unswervingly pursue reform and opening up, and promote all-round progress in the economic, political, cultural, social and environmental fields. Our development is for the people and by the people and its benefits are shared among the people. It is a scientific development that is people-oriented, comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable.
The World today is undergoing major development, major changes and major adjustments. The trend towards peace, development and cooperation, which represent the call of our times, has grown stronger than ever. As the world moves further toward multi-polarity and economic globalization, multilateralism and democracy in international relations have won greater popular support, while opening up and cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win progress have become the shared aspirations of the international community. Countries have become more interdependent. At the same time, the world remains under the impact of the financial crisis and the prospects for an economic recovery are still not clear.In the face of unprecedented opportunities and challenges, we, members of the international community, should commit ourselves to peace, development, cooperation, common progress and tolerance and continue our joint endeavor to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity and contribute to the noble cause of peace and development of mankind.
As a responsible and major developing country, China has always made common development an important aspect of its foreign policy. We have made great effort to provide support and assistance to other developing countries, and fulfilled our commitment under the UN Millennium Declaration. So far, we have given assistance to more than 120 countries, cancelled debts for 49 heavily-indebted poor countries and least developed countries, and extended zero-tariff treatment to commodities from over 40 least developed countries.
Over the past year, the world economy has experienced the most severe challenge since the Great Depression. The Chinese government launched the four-trillion-RMB yuan stimulus package. We have achieved initial results in our endeavor and arrested the downturn in economic growth. China is confident to achieve the aim of 8 percent GDP growth which was targeted at the beginning of this year. Last year, China successfully hosted the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Games. Next year, China will host the Shanghai World Expo which will demonstrate the Chinese achievements since the reform and opening-up and the image of progressive China.
China-New Zealand relation is at its best in history. Cooperations between the two countries in different fields are continuously strengthened. Since the signing of the free trade agreement between China and New Zealand, economic and trade relations and cooperations are further promoted.
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now propose the toast of prosperity of China, the friendship between our two peoples and the good health and well-being of you.
Thank you.
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