Remarks by Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU Ambassador Cai Run At the Reception Celebrating the 76th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China

Your Excellency Mr. Olivier BAILLY, Deputy Secretary-General of the EEAS,
Your Excellency Mr. Younous OMARJEE, Vice-President of the European Parliament,
Your Excellency Madam Theodora GENTZIS, Secretary-General of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good evening. Today we gather together to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On behalf of the Mission of China to the European Union, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our guests and express my heartfelt appreciation to friends from all walks of life who have shown care and support for China's modernization and the development of China-EU relations.

Over the 76 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially after more than four decades of reform and opening-up, the Chinese nation, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, has achieved a historic transformation from standing up, to becoming prosperous, and to growing strong. China has become the world's second-largest economy and the largest trader of goods, contributing around 30 percent to global economic growth for many consecutive years. Since the launch of reform and opening-up, China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, completely eradicating absolute poverty, a problem that had plagued the Chinese nation for thousands of years, and also making significant contributions to global peace and development. China's development and growth add to the world's collective strength for peace.

This year marks the conclusion of China's 14th Five-Year Plan, and is also the year for mapping out and laying the blueprint for the 15th Five-Year Plan. China has further deepened reform across the board and achieved remarkable results. Despite significantly mounting external shocks, China's economy grew by 5.3 percent in the first half of this year, demonstrating strong resilience and vitality. China is intensifying efforts to expand domestic demand, continuously unleashing the immense market potential of our 1.4 billion population. China's innovation index has, for the first time, entered the global top ten, and the development of new quality productive forces is accelerating. China has lifted all market access restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector, and is further opening sectors such as telecommunications, the internet, education, culture, and healthcare. China is now formulating its 15th Five-Year Plan, which will further advance high-quality development and high-level opening-up, offering fresh development and cooperation opportunities to countries around the world.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment China-EU diplomatic ties, an important milestone for building on past achievements and looking into the future. In July, President Xi Jinping met with President António Costa of the European Council and President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission who were on a joint visit to China. Leaders of both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on the development of China-EU relations and reached important consensus, thus charting the course forward and providing strategic guidance for our relations. Premier Li Qiang co-chaired the 25th China-EU Leaders' Meeting with President Costa and President von der Leyen, achieving positive results that have strongly promoted the development of China-EU relations. China-EU practical cooperation has overcome various difficulties and challenges, and made constant progress. According to Chinese statistics, from January to August this year, China-EU trade volume reached over USD 540 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.3 percent. The stock of bilateral investment has now reached USD 270 billion. The China-Europe railway express has made over 110 thousand trips. China-EU Interparliamentary exchanges have also taken new steps forward. China-EU cooperation has delivered benefits to peoples of both sides and added stability and certainty to the world.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. China is the main eastern theater of the World Anti-Fascist War. The Chinese people made tremendous national sacrifices and significant contributions to the victory over fascism worldwide. Remembering history is not about perpetuating hatred, but about learning from the past, cherishing peace, creating a better future, and pooling together efforts to safeguard peace. It is in the shared interest of the international community, including both China and Europe to defend the achievements of World War II victory and uphold the UN-centered international system and order.

Recently, President Xi Jinping solemnly proposed the Global Governance Initiative, which encompasses five core concepts: upholding sovereign equality, respecting international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, advocating a people-centered approach, and taking real actions. This is another major initiative put forward by China following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, contributing China's wisdom and solutions to improving global governance. Multilateralism remains the greatest unifying consensus between China and the EU. China is ready to work with the international community, including the EU, to strengthen cooperation,and work to build a more just and equitable global governance system and a community with a shared future for mankind.

China and Europe are two major forces in building a multi-polar world, two big markets supporting globalization, and two great civilizations advocating diversity. In today's world with accelerating changes unseen in a century, the development of China-EU relations carries even greater strategic significance and global impact. The main task for both sides now is to work hand in hand to deliver on the important consensus and outcomes reached by our leaders, seize opportunities, and meet challenges, to promote the sound and steady growth of China-EU relations and open up a brighter future for this relationship.

Let us all together wish:

May China and Europe prosper and develop, and their peoples live in happiness!

May China-Europe friendship and cooperation reach ever greater heights!

May all our distinguished guests enjoy good health and every success!

Thank you!