Honorable Samuel Tembenu, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Guest of Honor
Honorable Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers present,
Honorable Members of the Parliament,
Excellencies from the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen:  

Good evening!

It is my great pleasure to have you all here in the reception to celebrate the 66^th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. My wife and I, together with all staff from the Chinese Embassy in Malawi would like to extend the warmest welcome! The day before yesterday, we celebrated China's traditional festival Mid-Autumn Day, the day for family reunion. On this occasion of double happiness, I would like to express my best wishes to overseas Chinese nationals in Malawi. Wish you a happy festival and blessed family.

The year of 2015 is an extraordinary year for China.

On the international front, China joined the international community in celebrating the 70^th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended various UN summits, and announced a series of important commitments made by the Chinese government, which built an image of China as a great nation with responsibility. In addition, China successfully hosted the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia Summit in Shanghai and the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Beijing. China played an active role in various issues of global concern, including the issue of nuclear program of Iran. The Chinese government promoted the construction of "One Belt and One Road", and initiated the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. We are more than willing to share development opportunities with the rest of the world.

This year marks the 15^th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). And a FOCAC summit will be held in South Africa this coming December. During the summit, we will chart the blueprint of the cooperation between China and Africa for the next three years, and promote the transformation and upgrading of China-Africa friendship and cooperation. China upholds correct viewpoint of righteousness and benefit when it deepens the mutually beneficial cooperation with Africa. China actively participates in the industrialization process of African countries, and helps African countries to achieve sustainable and independent development. Last year, the volume of China-Africa trade was more than 220 billion US dollars and China's investment in Africa reached 30 billion US dollars.

On the domestic front, we actively adapt to the economic "New Normal", and encourage mass entrepreneurship and innovation. China's economy remains robust and steady. Although there have been some ups and downs, but the underlying trend remains positive. In the first half of this year, China's GDP growth was about 7%, contributing to about 30% of world economic growth. At the same time, we spare no efforts in solving the structural problems affecting China's long-term development and achieving economic transformation and upgrading.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In 2015, the bilateral relations between China and Malawi have realized deeper and broader development.

A few weeks ago, H.E. Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi attended the Ninth Summer Davos Forum in Dalian, China. There he met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and they had extensive and in-depth exchanges on China-Malawi relations as well as other issues of shared interests.  H.E. Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika also paid a visit and tour in some places of China successfully. Besides, in May this year, Mr. Zhang Ping, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress visited Malawi. This was a delegation of the highest level since the establishment of our diplomatic relations. In August, the multi-party delegation led by the Right Honorable Richard Msowoya, Speaker of the Malawian Parliament visited China, and attended China-African People's Forum and China-Northeast Asia Expo. In the same month, Mr. Qian Keming, Vice Commerce Minister of China visited Malawi, and held the first session of the Joint Commission on Trade Investment and Technical Cooperation with the Malawi side. Also, the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in Salima came to completion. China-Malawi Agricultural Technical Cooperation Farm in Lilongwe was unveiled. And the national stadium project is also close to completion. More Malawians have received scholarships or training opportunities in China, and various cultural exchanges and health cooperation projects have been conducted. When Malawi was hit by severe flood early this year, Chinese people felt the same pain as Malawians and lent a helping hand. The Chinese government provided an emergency humanitarian aid of six hundred thousand US dollars, and the Chinese community in Malawi also made several donations to help the disaster-stricken area. These activities above have laid a solid foundation for the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries.

We are fully convinced that, with the common concern from the leaderships of the two countries and the concerted efforts made by of various stakeholders of both sides, our mutually beneficial cooperation will reach a new high, and our bilateral relations will have a better future.

Now may I invite all of you to join me in a toast?

For the good health of H.E. Professor President Arthur Peter Mutharika!

For the ever-lasting friendship between China and Malawi!

For the wellbeing and happiness of the peoples of our two countries!

Cheers!