Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening and Namaste!

The Chinese new year of the Dragon will fall in three days. It gives me great pleasure to celebrate this most important traditional Chinese festival with our old and new friends here. In Chinese culture, dragon symbolizes auspiciousness, wisdom and strength. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a happy and prosperous year of the Dragon.

Over the past year, Chinese modernization has made great progress. China’s economic performance was impressive in 2023, with a GDP growth rate of 5.2%. China has contributed to more than 30 percent of global growth for over 10 consecutive years. The living standard of Chinese people has reached a new level. The ecological environment continues to improve. The tourist destinations are full of visitors on holidays. The Chengdu World University Games and the Hangzhou Asian Games were spectacular, and I would congratulate India for its best-ever performance in the Asian Games.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. We will stay committed to advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development, providing strong impetus for the economic development of China and the world, and delivering a better life for the people. We will stay committed to the policy of opening-up, give full play to the advantage of a huge domestic market, and create favorable conditions for the world to share China’s opportunities.

Over the past year, China has promoted world peace and development. In a world of instability and transformation, China has shouldered the responsibilities, and pushed forward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. We worked hard for the cessation of hostilities and for peace talks in the Ukraine crisis, made unremitting efforts for the de-escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, played a constructive role in addressing hotspot issues such as Afghanistan and Myanmar, and contributed to addressing global challenges.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, or “Panchsheel”. These Principles, jointly advocated by China and India, have already become a basic norm governing international relations. In 2024, we hope conflicts and wars will be brought to an end, displaced people return to their home at an early date, and international justice and fairness will be truly upheld. We look forward to an early realization of an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

Over the past year, China-India relations have shown a positive momentum of improvement. The two sides maintained high-level communications and interactions. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi reached important consensus on stabilizing bilateral ties. China supported India’s presidency of both G20 and SCO. Bilateral trade volume reached 136.2 billion US dollars last year, with a year-on-year growth of 1.5%. India’s exports to China also increased by 6% last year.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore Ji’s visit to China. 100 years ago, Tagore Ji was warmly received in China, and said “My heart stays”upon leaving China. Today we should further enhance heart-to-heart communication and carry forward Tagore Ji’s legacy for China-India friendship. As the spring comes, we hope the window for communications gets bigger, the platform of practical cooperation becomes larger, the bridge for people-to-people exchanges will be rebuilt, and the two peoples can invest in and travel to each other’s country freely and conveniently.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Spring Festival was recognized as a UN holiday last December, and the Chinese New Year is celebrated around the world. Tonight, we present you with cultural performances, games and Chinese delicacies. You can also learn how to make dumplings, which is essential for the Chinese New Year Eve Dinner. We hope everyone will taste the flavor of spring and a fresh start of the new year, feel the warmth of family, and enjoy a happy and auspicious night together with us.

To conclude, let’s make wishes together. May China enjoy greater prosperity and the Chinese people live in happiness in the new year. May China-India friendship last forever and bilateral relations improve steadily. Wish you and your family good health and happiness.

Thank you! Danyavad!