Good afternoon.

Thank you all for joining us today to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Today, Chinese people look back with pride at what we have achieved, and chart our path forward. Under the leadership of Chinese Communist Party, and with the intelligence and diligence of our people, China has undergone a tremendous transformation over the past 67 years from a poverty-stricken country to the second largest economy in the world. For nearly four decades , China adheres to opening-up policy and is now deeply integrated into the international community. The arduous journey of reform helps us build our confidence. We have every reason to believe that China has chosen a right developing path.

Under the background of sluggish world economy, China’s economy, like many other countries, is facing some downward pressure. Some of the deep-seated structural problems in China's economy still remain. The Chinese government has responded proactively to the challenges in taking a variety of measures, including maintaining economic growth, promoting reform, advancing restructuring and benefiting people’s livelihood. These measures have already taken effect. The economic growth has on the whole maintained stability while making steady progress in restructuring and reform. At the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 6.7%, continuing to provide energy to global economic growth.

China acts not only as the major engine of global economic growth, but also the navigator directing the way forward. At the G20 Hangzhou Summit earlier this month in China, to address the major challenges in global economy, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that global economic governance should be based on equality, embrace openness, driven by cooperation and be about participation by all and benefits for all. All parties should jointly ensure equitable and efficient global financial governance; jointly foster open and transparent global trade and investment governance; jointly establish green and low-carbon global energy governance; and jointly facilitate an inclusive and interconnected global development governance.

As a responsible stakeholder, China is participating in the global economic governance in a wider range, deeper way and higher level. The idea of seeking cooperation and win-win situation is recognized by more and more countries. In light of prominent problems in current world economy, the initiative of jointly building an open, innovative, interconnected and inclusive world economy is echoed and applauded by more and more countries.

Ladies and gentlemen,

At present, the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and South Africa is making great strides forward. Economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges have advanced as well. During the G20 Hangzhou summit, President Xi Jinping and President Zuma met with each other and agreed to work closer under the multilateral framework of UN, G20, Brics, and FOCAC in the future.

The partnership should be implemented in local cooperation bringing more investments and jobs. The friendship between peoples should be fostered in communication of culture, education, science and technology between them. As the center of commerce, business, financing and manufacturing, Gauteng Province attracts more than 100 Chinese transnational corporations, having invested more than 13 billion US dollars. Chinese investment projects such as home appliances, industrial park and cargo truck factory have created over 20,000 jobs for South Africans. Free State leads the way in agriculture and education cooperation with China. They have successfully enrolled students in various universities in China, obtaining scarce skills needed to develop not only Free State but South Africa in general.

The cooperation between China and these two provinces is the miniature of China-South Africa relations. Our two countries are both undergoing economic restructuring. In years to come, we will head for more and deepened cooperation in sectors such as blue economy, production capacity, special economic zones, energy, infrastructure building, human resource development and finance.

For our part, the Consulate team is committed to expanding dialogues with local authorities and work with them to support the healthy and sustainable development of Chinese companies, as well as to bridge and facilitate bilateral cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

You are both promoters and participants in the relationship between China and South Africa. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to all those who care about and support China's development and are actively working to promote China-South Africa friendship and peoples exchange. As we celebrate the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, I am confident that as long as we stick together and take concrete actions, our ties and cooperation will grow stronger. Our peoples will be given every opportunity to reach their fullest potential and to live their dreams.

In closing, may I propose a toast:

to the prosperity of China and South Africa and the happiness of our peoples,

to the success and well-being of all the distinguished guests,

Cheers!