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Remarks by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at the Reception for the 59th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China
2008-09-27 23:34

Honorable Vice President Yong Hyong-sop,

Fellow Ambassadors and Heads of Missions,

Comrades and Friends,

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Vice President Yang Hyong-sop and all distinguished guests present tonight for joining us in celebrating the 59th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. I am also very happy to acknowledge the presence of President Wu Donghe and his delegation from the Council of China-DPRK Friendship.

Fifty-nine years ago, the birth of a new China opened a new chapter in Chinese history. Over the past 59 years and especially since the adoption of the Reform and Opening-up Policy 30 years ago, China has undergone tremendous changes and made remarkable achievements. From 1978 to 2007, its GDP has jumped from USD49.9 billion to USD3400 billion, increasing by 68 times and elevating China’s ranking in the world economy from the 10th to 4th place. China's volume of foreign trade has multiplied by more than 100 times, from USD20.6 billion up to USD2100 billion, making China the 3rd (instead of the 22nd) largest trading entity in the world. Its foreign exchange reserve has increased by almost 1000 times from US$1.55 billion to US$1500 billion, ranking China first in the world in terms of foreign exchange reserves. Over the past 59 years, China’s economy has been greatly enhanced; the living standard of the Chinese people has fundamentally improved, and political, cultural and social building has achieved tremendous overall progress. All these successes have shown that the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics is the right road to take our nation to prosperity, democracy, modernity and harmony.

The year 2008 is engraved in the memory of Chinese people. It is also a year for the world to know and understand China better. In the past year, the Chinese nation went through unimaginable hardships from which it has emerged even stronger. The worst snow disaster in a century failed to bring the Chinese people to their knees. The destructive earthquakes, rarely seen since the founding of the People’s Republic failed to subdue a united nation. We believe that trials and tribulations serve only to revitalize a nation. We believe that a nation good at learning from disasters will grow even more resilient and stronger.

The year 2008 has witnessed the 100-year dream of the Chinese nation finally come true. Not long ago, the 29th Olympic Games were successfully concluded in Beijing. The Chinese people kept their solemn commitments to the international community by staging a high standard Olympic Games with distinctive features, an Olympics that was green, high-tech empowered and people-oriented. With that dream realized, the Chinese people also promoted the Olympic spirit of solidarity, friendship and peace, enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship among themselves and the people of all other countries, and strengthening mutual exchanges among different cultures. Moreover, China has successfully hosted the Paralympics Games, realizing the goal of “Two Olympics, Equal Splendor" and presenting an ode to the human dream of transcendence, integration and sharing. Two days ago, the manned spacecraft Shenzhou-7 was successfully launched. Just an hour ago, a Chinese astronaut made a successful spacewalk. It is a remarkable feat accomplished by the Chinese people on their journey to ascend the peak of science and technology. It is also a significant step taken by China to explore and use the outer space peacefully for the benefit of entire mankind.

The year 2008 is a year in which the Chinese nation has honored the past and is advancing to a better future. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Reform and Opening-up policy. Thanks to this policy, we have achieved 30 years of rapid economic growth and social progress, embarking on a glorious path of which every Chinese person feels proud. Looking into the future, China will persevere with reform and opening-up, adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, resolutely follow the road of peaceful development and continue to work with all the other countries to build toward a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

Comrades and Friends,

The year 2008 is also an extraordinary year for China-DPRK relationship. President Hu Jintao and General Secretary Kim Jong-il maintained good communications through exchanging messages. General Secretary Kim Jong-il visited the Chinese Embassy twice within a year. Vice President Xi Jinping paid a successful official visit to the DPRK. Under the direct care and instructions of the top leaders of our two countries, the cooperation between China and the DPRK in various fields has made new and remarkable progress. In particular, we have many happy events to remember. As the Beijing Olympic Torch came to Pyongyang, hundreds of thousands of DPRK citizens were dressed up and rushed into the streets to welcome it, presenting the world a most magnificent and successful Olympic Torch Relay. In the game fields of the Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese and DPRK athletes joined hands and competed in the same arena; Chinese audiences gave their warmest applause and cheers whenever the DPRK athletes showed up. In the struggle against Tibetan and Taiwan separatists, the DPRK people stood firm with the Chinese people for their just cause of safeguarding state sovereignty and territorial integrity by condemning those separatist forces. When China was struck by the Sichuan earthquake, the DPRK government provided emergency assistance; the DPRK people joined the Chinese people in expressing deep condolences for the earthquake victims by sounding sirens in Pyongyang. In the international arena, China and the DRPK have supported each other and closely coordinated in the Six Party Talks, making joint contributions to maintaining peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the Northeast Asia. Our exchanges and cooperation in the fields of trade, cultural, educational, scientific, sports, health, media and publishing etc., are growing more active and bearing bountiful fruits. The exchanges between the two peoples are also getting closer. The China-DPRK Friendship Council and the DPRK-China Friendship Council just celebrated their 50th birthday. While participating in celebration activities, President WuDonghe brought with him a team of well-known Chinese eye doctors for conducting a medical assistance program in Pyongyang. In the past few days, they performed surgeries on more than 50 local cataract patients. They have not only brought light to the patients but also opened a new chapter in China-DPRK friendship. I want to express sincere respect and thanks to President Wu Donghe and the Chinese doctors.

It is an unswerving strategic principle of the Chinese Party and Government to consolidate and develop a friendly and cooperative relationship with the China-DPRK. No matter how the international situation changes, this principle will remain unbending. In the spirit of “Inheriting the tradition, Facing the future, Maintaining the good-neighborliness and friendship, Enhancing cooperation”, we will continue to work with the DPRK to further consolidate the friendship between the Chinese and the DPRK peoples, and keep enriching our friendly and cooperative relationship.

The year 2009 will be marked as the important year in the history of China-DPRK relations as our two countries will celebrate the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties. The two countries have agreed to mark the year 2009 “The year of China-DPRK Friendship." We will work together to fulfill the consensus of our top leaders by making the events of the friendship year well-organized and with distinctive features, so as to promote mutual understanding, deepen cooperation and consolidate friendship, thus ensuring even greater progress for the China-DPRK relationship in the new era of the 21st century.

Thank you.

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