Honorable Minister of State for Environment & Forests, Mr. Jairam Ramesh,

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    October 1, 1949 was a special day for the entire Chinese nation. On that day 60 years ago, Chairman Mao proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China. Today we are very happy that you all can come and join us to celebrate this memorable occasion.

    The past six decades have witnessed tremendous changes in the world as well as in China. Chinese people, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese government, have surmounted numerous difficulties and obstacles both at home and abroad, and scored unprecedented achievements in all fronts. Once a backward country, China today has become a country with relatively advanced industry, agriculture and science and technology, with GDP reached US$4.4 trillion in 2008, becoming the third largest world economy. Once importing even nails, China today is able to send its people into the space, leaving footprints in the space. Once a closed country, China today opens its door widely to the outside, welcoming friends all over the world and plays an increasingly important and active role in international and regional affairs. Once being called as the "sick man" in the East Asia, China today has become one of the world sports giants, successfully hosted the Beijing Olympic Games. Once an impoverished nation, China today offers its 1.3 billion people a moderately prosperous life with their material and cultural life remarkably improved. Once a country of disunity, China today is a country where 56 ethnic nationalities live in one big family and enjoy national unity and common prosperity. More importantly, China has found the correct path for its development.

    In spite of the challenges and difficulties we are still facing ahead, the achievements of the past 60 years have made Chinese people even more confident about their future. China will firmly and continuously stick to the path of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, adhere to the policy of reform and opening up, upheld the independent foreign policy of peace and work together with other countries to build a harmonious world with peace and development.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, China-India relations have also witnessed marked progress in recent years. Frequent high-level visits, fast increasing economic cooperation and expanding coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs have become the main feature of our relationship. All these contribute positively to the deepening of China-India Strategic and Cooperative Partnership. China-India relations have become one of the most important bilateral relations in the world today and have already yielded substantial benefits to the peoples of two countries. It is the set policy of China to further advance China-India relations in an all-round manner, with the aim of achieving the common development of both countries as well as making contributions to the peace and prosperity of Asia and the world as whole.

    Now, may I propose a toast,

To the health of the leaders of our two countries,

To the prosperity of China and India,

To the friendship between China and India,

To the health of all present.