Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of my wife and my colleagues, I would like to welcome all of you for joining us in this celebration of the 61st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
China has scored notable achievements over the past 30-odd years since the reform and opening up. However, China remains the world's largest developing country with a huge population and a weak economic foundation. Our GDP per capita has just exceeded 3000 USD, trailing behind more than 100 countries. Therefore, China has to make lasting and arduous efforts so as to achieve modernization and enable all the Chinese people to live a rich, happy and comfortable life.
Now many people including South African people are interested to know the implications of China's development to the world. And what role is China going to play in the international stage? I'd like to take this opportunity to iterate: China is always seeking common development through mutually beneficial cooperation. And China will unswervingly follow the road of peaceful development and pursue an open-up strategy featuring win-win results. As a responsible developing country, China is willing and able to make greater contribution to the peace and development of the world with its own development.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
China and Africa enjoy a long history of friendly exchanges. To deepen China-Africa traditional friendship, boost practical cooperation and forge in an all-round way a new China-Africa Strategic Partnership is the shared desire of our two peoples. It is also the calling of the times.
Here I'd like to quote President Zuma's remarks at Renmin University of China in Beijing during his state visit to China last month. He said, "China never colonized Africa. They came to trade, to do business with Africa, in other words, not to colonize, but to help Africa to stand on its own. China is discussing with brothers and sisters in Africa to create mutually beneficial relationship. We are free to make our choices to relate with whoever we want to relate to. And China, to us, is a century-old friend and neighbor, and therefore we are taking from there. " This is the African rational view on Africa-China relations from a historical and global perspective.
Last November, the Chinese government announced the eight new measures in support of Africa's sustainable development at the fourth Ministerial Conference on FOCAC in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Chinese side is vigorously implementing the follow-up actions to help expand China's trade with and investment in Africa, build up Africa's capacity to achieve self-development and thus elevate China-Africa friendship and cooperation to a higher level.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
The world today is undergoing profound changes. As developing countries, China and South Africa have similar development tasks and enjoy broad common interests. Since the establishment of the diplomatic ties 12 years ago, China-South African relations witnessed all-round and rapid development with fruitful results in all areas and have become one of the most important and dynamic bilateral relations between China and African and even developing countries. Our relations are growing beyond the bilateral level with more global significance. China is South Africa's largest trading partner and biggest export destination. Both sides maintained sound coordination and cooperation on global and regional issues to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of the developing countries.
During President Zuma's successful visit to China last month, leaders of the two countries have reached important consensus. The two sides signed several bilateral cooperation documents covering cooperation in areas of energy, environment and infrastructure and etc. The two countries agree to upgrade bilateral ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which embodies the two sides' mutual trust and broad common interests. It also charts the course for the future of our relations. We will work closely with our South African colleagues to fully implement the fruitful results of this visit and bring our cooperation to a new high.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
In order to promote our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the governments, business and academic circles, media and ordinary people of our two countries should listen more attentively to each other to further deepen our mutual understanding.
Shanghai Expo and FIFA World Cup are among the keywords in the memory of the Chinese people in 2010. They serve as a bridge to strengthen the economic and cultural exchanges between the two peoples. South Africa is positively participating in the Shanghai Expo. The South African Pavilion has different themes each month and impresses the Chinese audience with its unique design and colorful exhibition. It has attracted more than 2 million visitors till now. At the same time, more than 10 million people visited the African united Pavilion.
South Africa has successfully hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. It left precious legacy for both South Africa and the African continent. We'd like to express our heartfelt congratulations to the South Africa Government and its people. During the FIFA World Cup, tens of thousands of Chinese tourists and almost a thousand Chinese journalists came to South Africa. And hundreds of millions of Chinese soccer fans watched the matches on TV. The success of the spectacular event helped the Chinese people gain a brand new understanding of the "rainbow nation" with dynamic economic development and diverse culture.
Communications and exchanges are the base for mutual understanding and mutual respect. It is also the cornerstone for friendship and cooperation. We're willing to try our best to better explain ourselves to help our South African friends to get a wider and more balanced understanding of China. We would also like to take opinions and suggestions on how to further promote China-South African as well as China-African relations from our friends from South Africa and other African countries.
In conclusion, I would like to propose a toast:
To the friendship and cooperation between China and South Africa;
And to the health of all of you!
Thank you!