Your Respected Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary of Ministry of Commerce and Industry,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
Good evening and Namaste!
Today, we are celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all of you, and my heartfelt thanks to all the friends who have longstanding interest in China’s development and have supported China-India friendship.
Over the past 77 years, the Communist Party of China has united and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in making unremitting efforts, and has successfully embarked on the Chinese path to modernization. This has laid a solid foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and made important contributions to world peace and development.
China’s economy is making steady progress and pursuing innovation-driven and high-quality development. In the first half of this year, China’s economy grew by 4.7 percent, with new growth drivers such as advanced manufacturing and the digital economy contributing more than 40 percent, while artificial intelligence is empowering all sectors and industries. China continues to contribute around 30 percent to global economic growth and remains a leading engine of the world economy.
China stays committed to openness, inclusiveness and shared prosperity. China’s total trade in goods has ranked first in the world for 9 consecutive years, while its imports have ranked second globally for 17 consecutive years. China has also become the major export destination for nearly 80 countries. China has actively established platforms such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the Canton Fair, the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) and the China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), sharing the opportunities of China’s supersized market with the world.
China fulfills its responsibilities as a major country and plays its due role in promoting world peace and development. President Xi Jinping has successively put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, with the aim of bringing stability to the world and making it a better place. Since China launched the Global Development Initiative five years ago, we have implemented over 2,000 projects in partnership with others, and provided training for more than 200,000 professionals, benefiting people in more than 120 countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China and India are close neighbors. Friendly exchanges and cooperation have always been the mainstream of our bilateral relations. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping visited India to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, and once again held a successful meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders reached important consensus on developing China-India relations on a sound and stable track. We would make joint efforts with India to translate the consensus into more concrete actions and bring greater benefits to the two peoples.
First, to maintain a correct strategic perception, and be practitioners of good-neighbourliness and friendship. China and India are partners rather than rivals, and development opportunities rather than threats to each other. China is ready to work with India to view and handle the bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, accurately define the positioning of our relationship, explore the right way for neighbouring major countries to get along with each other, and promote the continuous development of our bilateral relations.
Second, to uphold the vision of win-win cooperation and be champions for mutual achievements. In recent years, the list of China-India cooperation has continued to grow, and bilateral trade has reached new heights. In the first half of this year, the bilateral trade volume reached 91.7 billion US dollars, with a year-on-year increase of 23.6 percent. People-to-people exchanges have also become more active, enhancing mutual understanding between the two sides. Development is the shared goal of our two countries. It would be mutually beneficial for us to strengthen friendly exchanges and win-win cooperation, enhance public support for our bilateral ties, and assist each other’s development and revitalization.
Third, to uphold mutual respect and mutual understanding and be exemplars of peaceful coexistence. As two ancient civilizations, China and India have sufficient political and historical wisdom to handle differences properly. We stay committed to striving for a dual-track approach to bilateral relations and border issues with each reinforcing the other and maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas so as to ensure that the bilateral relations advance on the right track.
Fourth, to be committed to pursuing the common good, and be leaders in promoting multilateral cooperation. As changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world, China and India are expected to jointly demonstrate a sense of historical responsibility, unequivocally uphold international fairness and justice, and firmly safeguard the common interests of the Global South. We would support each other’s BRICS chairmanship, strengthen coordination in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the G20, to contribute greater stability and positive energy to the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Hills pile up to form a high mountain; streams converge to form a mighty river. The improvement and development of China-India relations cannot be achieved without the support and efforts of Indian friends from all walks of life. The leaders of China and India have once again set the direction for the development of bilateral relations. Let’s stay committed to our goal, move forward hand in hand, and promote China-India relations to new heights.
Now, please join me in a toast:
To the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China,
To the friendship and cooperation between China and India,
To the health of everybody,
Cheers!
Thank you all!
