Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening. I would like to thank all of you for joining us in this celebration of the 61st Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

First of all, please allow me to say some words about myself, since I’m brand new here in Malawi. Before coming here, I was working as a Vice Mayor of the Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, that is in the south part of China. Nanning is a green city of China, a wonderful place. I hope you will have an opportunity to visit Nanning someday. I used to serve in Asia and Europe as a diplomat for many years, mostly in the United Kingdom. It is a great honor for me now to be the new Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, the Warm Heart of Africa.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially since the adopting of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, China has undergone profound transformations, and scored great economic and social development.

About 300 million people of China have got rid of poverty, which is a remarkable achievement in the cause of safeguarding and protecting human rights in China and the world.

In the past two years, despite the financial crisis which hit the world economy severely, China has maintained a steady and relatively fast economic growth, and achieved a leading recovery. Last year, the GDP growth rate of China has reached 8.7%. In the first quarter of this year, the economy of China grew by 11.1%. China has made great contributions to the global economic recovery.

However, China is still a developing country by nature. With a population of over 1.3 billion, the development achievements of China, if divided by 1.3 billion, will be small in number. The per capita GDP of China is just about 3800 US dollars, ranking 105th in the world. We still have many difficulties and challenges in front of us, including a relatively weak economic foundation, development gaps between the urban and rural areas, and among different regions. We still have a long way to go before we can build a modernized and prosperous society.

One of the reasons for China’s rapid development is our consistent adherence to the reform and opening-up policy for the last 30 years or so. In the days to come, we will continue deepening reform and expanding the opening up scale. We will further strengthen the exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries in the world, including African countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China and Malawi are new friends, our diplomatic relations were established just two and half years ago. However, under the direct care and guidance from the two Heads of State and with the concerted efforts of both sides, our bilateral relations have developed rapidly, featuring with tangible results. China now has become a sincere friend and reliable development partner of Malawi.

The economic and trade cooperation between China and Malawi has reached a new high. In order to encourage Malawi’s export to China, we have granted unilaterally tariff exemption treatment to 65% items of Malawi’s exports to China. In a phased manner, the treatment will finally cover 95%. This year from January to April, the trade volume between China and Malawi has reached 50 million US dollars. China exported 23 million US dollars and imported 27 million US dollars. The trade balance is in favor of Malawi.

The cooperation between China and Malawi in other fields has also yielded fruitful results. Up to now, China has provided a total of 98 governmental scholarships to Malawi, and has invited more than 500 Malawian officials and professionals to visit China or attend training programs. At this stage, 17 Chinese doctors and 20 Chinese youth volunteers are working in Malawi.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As Chinese Ambassador to Malawi, I will do my utmost to fulfill my duties to further enhance China-Malawi friendly relations.

Except the Parliament Building which has been completed and handed over to the Malawian side, we will continue to actively carry out those projects pledged by the Chinese Government when the diplomatic relations were established, that is to say the Karonga-Chitipa Road, the International Conference Center and Five-Star Hotel, the Malawi University of Science and Technology, and a stadium.

In addition, we will speed up the implementation of the fruits of the 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) concerning Malawi. We are going to set up an agricultural technology demonstration center, to join the efforts of Malawian Government in agricultural development. We will build two solar energy pilot projects and one biogas pilot project, to support Malawi addressing the challenges of climate change. Besides, we will build a China-Africa friendship school in Malawi.

Cultural and educational exchanges and cooperation are very important in strengthening the friendship and mutual understanding between our two peoples. The two countries are sure to do more in these fields.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the coming years, we are going to work together. I need your precious support to fulfill my mission. Let’s join hands, to make our contributions to the development of Malawi.

Now, I propose to raise our glasses,

for the well-being and happiness of Malawian people!

干杯！Cheers!