Remarks by H. E. Ambassador Wei Ruixing at the Reception to Mark the 68th China's National Day

2017-09-30 01:36

(Hotel Radisson Blu Lietuva, September 27th, 2017)

Hon. Members of the Seimas,

Hon. Ministers and Vice Ministers,

Excellencies and Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good evening! My wife and I feel very much delighted and greatly honored that you could join us to celebrate the 68th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. I wish, on behalf of the entire staff of the Chinese Embassy and in my own name, to extend to all of you our warm welcome and best wishes.

During the past year, China has made remarkable achievements in economic and social development, and the Chinese people have been striding toward the realization of the "Chinese Dream".

Following the five development concepts of "innovation, coordination, green, open and sharing", the Chinese Government and people continued to implement the "13th Five-Year Plan", maintaining a good momentum of economic growth.

In the first half of 2017, China's total GDP was about US$5.6 trillion, an increase of 6.9%, and registered steady growth in the third quarter. China is an important contributor to the world economic growth. According to the calculated statistics by World Bank, China's contribution to the world economic growth from 2013 to 2016 was 31.6% on average, which exceeded the total contribution to the world economic growth by the United States, the euro area countries and Japan.

By August this year, China's total volume of import and export registered about US$2.6 trillion, maintaining the world largest country of foreign trade. The total volume of import and export between China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries in the first half of 2017 was about US$31 billion, up by 11%. In the next five years, China will import all kinds of commodities worth US$8 trillion.

China's foreign exchange reserve has been increasing for 7 consecutive months from January this year, recording US$3.09 trillion by the end of August, maintaining the world largest country in terms of foreign exchange reserve.

China has been actively providing guidance to the international economic cooperation, giving impetus to the world economic development and adding confidence to the international community.

By promoting policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bond, China pushes forward jointly building "the Belt and Road", providing new public goods and development opportunities for the international community. In May this year, China hosted "Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation" in Beijing, summing up the experiences and achievements during the past 4 years since "the Belt and Road" Initiative was proposed and providing a platform and ideas for regional cooperation, mutually beneficial cooperation between different countries and the global economic development.

In September, China hosted the 9th BRICS Summit in the city of Xiamen. With the theme of "Stronger Partnership for a Brighter Future", leaders of BRICS exchanged in-depth views on current international situation, global economic governance, BRICS cooperation and international and regional hot issues, reaffirmed the BRICS spirit of "openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and mutual benefits" and reached a series of consensus, laying out the blueprints for the future cooperation and further development of BRICS.

China adheres to peaceful development, and is ready to offer China's proposals and to make China's voice heard in international affairs. China will continue on the path of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics and will make unremitting efforts in building new type of international relations of win-win cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen: The past year witnessed unprecedented development of the friendly and cooperative relations between China and Lithuania, with frequent exchange of high-level visits and meetings, constant enhancement of mutual political trust, sustained expansion of trade and economic cooperation and more and more people-to-people and cultural exchanges, adding a new chapter in the history of China-Lithuania bilateral relations.

In April, H. E. Mr. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, paid an official visit to Lithuania. During the visit, Chairman Zhang held bilateral talks with Speaker Viktoras Pranckietis, and met with H. E. President Dalia Grybauskaitė and H. E. Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis respectively. The leaders had in-depth exchange of views on further developing the bilateral relations between China and Lithuania for the benefits of the two peoples, strengthening China-EU relations, China and Central and Eastern European Countries Cooperation, as well as on international and regional issues of common interest, and reached broad consensus. Chairman Zhang's three-day, which concluded with complete success as had been expected, not only consolidated mutual political trust between the two countries, but also gave an impetus to the further exchanges and cooperation between the two legislatures, the expanding and deepening of pragmatic cooperation in various fields and the promotion of healthy and sound development of China-Lithuania relations in the years to come.

There has been frequent exchange of ministerial-level visits since the beginning of this year. While Lithuanian Minister of Transport and Communications visited China for "Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation", Minister and Vice Minister of Agriculture for International Agro-Business Fair, Minister of Culture for Cultural Ministers' Meeting of China and Central and Eastern European Countries ("16+1"), Vice Minister of Economy for United Nations World Tourism Organization General Assembly, etc., Chinese Vice Minister of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine visited Lithuania for concluding and signing the Protocol on Veterinary and Public Health Requirements for Lithuanian beef products to be exported to China, Vice Minister of Agriculture for concluding and signing the Action Plan 2018-2020 of Cooperation in agricultural sector between China and Lithuania. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs is to visit Lithuania early next month for political consultations of the two Foreign Ministries, and the two Prime Ministers are expected to meet during the forthcoming 6th Meeting of Heads of Government of "16+1" in late November in Budapest, Hungary.

Trade and economic cooperation between the two countries have been accelerated, and cooperation in other areas has been expanded both in depth and scope. In the first half of this year, the total trade volume between China and Lithuania reached nearly US$1 billion, up by 27%, among which Lithuanian export to China was about US$170 million, an increase of 41%. Pragmatic cooperation in agricultural sector yielded fruitful results. Following the export of Lithuanian aquatic products and dairy products to China, Lithuanian beef products are expected to be put on the table of the Chinese people soon. Such results of pragmatic cooperation have not only become the highlights of China-Lithuania relations, but also brought tangible benefits to the two peoples.

Amity of the people holds the key to country-to-country relations. It is very much encouraging that there have been more and more people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. At the beginning of this year, "The Silk Road, Ancient Chinese Art" Exhibition was held at the Museum of Applied Arts and Design, opening to the public for three months, and Lithuanian National Philharmonic Society hosted the debut of Chinese Folk Music Concert. In mid-September, "Sail of Shanghai"---Cruising Exhibition of Economic and Cultural Cooperation was successfully held in Kaunas. Meanwhile, early this year, Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater visited several Chinese cities, presenting splendid performances to the Chinese audiences. In May, Lithuanian Arts Exhibition, inaugurated by Minister of Culture, was successfully held in Beijing. The State Department of Tourism presented "The Most Beautiful Lithuania" in China during World Travel Fair 2017. Such series of people-to-people and cultural exchanges have not only promoted mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples, but also served as a driving force for the development of China-Lithuania friendly relations.

There is a Chinese saying which goes: "Nothing, not even mountains and oceans, can separate people with shared goals and vision". China and Lithuania, though geographically far away from each other, enjoy a long history of exchange and cooperation, and the two peoples enjoy traditional friendships and share the common aspirations for prosperity and better life. Let us work shoulder by shoulder for further development of China-Lithuania relations and for the prosperity and wellbeing of the two peoples.

In conclusion, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you for joining us at this auspicious occasion, and wish you all an enjoyable evening.

Now I wish to propose a toast:

To the 68th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China,

To the prosperity and wellbeing of China and Lithuania and the two peoples,

To the further development of China-Lithuania relations,

To the world peace and development,

To the health of all distinguished guests,

Cheers!