According to the lunar calendar of China, 3 February 2011 is the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year of Chinese people. At this auspicious moment of bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new, I, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, wish to express my sincere festive greetings to the Chinese community in Malawi and the Malawian Government and people.

Spring Festival is the most important festival for Chinese people. As far back as the Shang Dynasty, which was about 3000 years ago, Chinese people have already started celebrating the Spring Festival.

According to Chinese tradition, the year 2010 is the year of tiger, while the year 2011 is the rabbit year. Rabbit is a symbol of happiness and good luck in Chinese culture. Hereon, I wish all of you happiness and good luck in the year of rabbit.

Looking back on the year 2010, in face of the complex domestic and international situations, China successfully hosted the Shanghai World Expo and The Asian Games in Guangzhou, and launched its second unmanned lunar probe Chang’e II. Chinese people also bravely overcame severe natural disasters including the earthquake in Qinghai Province and the landslide in Gansu Province.

The year 2010 was the last year of China’s 11th Five-Year Development Program (2006-2010). China successfully fulfilled the targets set by the Program. The economic growth rate is estimated to reach10%, and the foreign trade has recovered from the international financial crisis and reached a record high. The livelihood of Chinese people has been further improved.

The year 2010 also witnessed the rapid development of China-Malawi friendly relations. Last May, H.E. Prof. Bingu wa Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi attended the Opening Ceremony of Shanghai World Expo, and had an important meeting with his counterpart H.E. President Hu Jintao.

The New Parliament Building has been completed and handed over to the Malawian side. The framework of the Five-Star Hotel and International Conference Center has been erected.

The economic and trade cooperation between China and Malawi has reached a new high. Last year from January to October, the two-way trade has reached 95.54 million US dollars.

The people-to-people exchanges have been fruitful. Malawi attended the Shanghai World Expo and won two awards. More than 1300 Malawian people visited China last year. The two governments signed an agreement on cultural cooperation, to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation in the area of culture.

A new year means a new beginning. Looking into the year 2011, there is much to expect from the China-Malawi friendly relations.

The Karonga-Chitipa Road will be completed and opened to traffic by the end of this year. The long-cherished dream of Malawian people will finally come into reality. The construction work of Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), which China helps to build, will be started.

China will build an agricultural demonstration center, two solar pilot projects, one biogas pilot projects and a China-Malawi friendship School in Malawi under the framework of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)．

The cooperation in the fields of culture, education, health, sports, youth, etc. will be strengthened and yield more fruitful results, and the mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples will be further enhanced.

I firmly believe that with joint and concerted efforts from both sides, China-Malawi friendly relations will make new headway in the new year.

Finally, I wish all of you happiness and good health in the new year.

Happy Spring Festival！ 春节快乐！