Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of International Organizations and Spouses,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
Good evening! It’s a great pleasure to be joined by friends both old and new to ring in the new year and renew our friendship. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the ambassadors, representatives and members of the diplomatic corps present, and sincere appreciation to friends from across the sectors who have long supported China’s diplomacy.
The year 2023 witnessed instability and transformation in the world, but, more importantly, there was impetus for development and progress. Having emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, the world values exchange even more dearly. Having experienced crises and conflicts, the world pursues peace even more resolutely. Over the past year, the notion of a new cold war has been widely rejected, and the approach of decoupling and cutting off industrial and supply chains has proven a dead end. More countries and peoples have come to realize that we humanity are in it together come rain or shine, and the future of the global village lies in our own hands.
The year 2023 witnessed the Chinese people and people from around the world supporting each other on the journey forward. China achieved a steady transition in its COVID-19 response and saw a rebound of its economy. High-quality development was pursued with solid steps, and qualitatively new productive forces were forming at a faster pace. The Chinese path to modernization was becoming ever broader. While pursuing its own development, China also embraced the world. We opened our door wider to share our development opportunities and to welcome friends from around the globe with open arms, thus injecting much-needed stability and positive energy to the world.
Over the past year, China’s diplomatic service has risen to challenges and forged ahead with a great sense of responsibility. We have brought the great cause of building a community with a shared future for mankind to a new height, and made new contributions to safeguarding world peace and advancing common development.
China has stayed committed to dialogue and cooperation and served as a staunch pillar in healthy interactions between major countries. The summit meeting between Chinese and American Presidents shaped the San Francisco vision and stabilized the bilateral relationship, which met the shared expectation of the world. The time-tested China-Russia relationship is a paradigm for a new type of major-country relations and serves global strategic stability. China and Europe deepened dialogue and cooperation, advanced green development, and jointly safeguarded multilateralism. As the world experiences growing transformation and instability, it is all the more important that major countries work in the same direction and demonstrate greater vision and sense of responsibility commensurate with their stature.
China has acted on the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and proven a reliable partner in jointly building the Asian home. The inaugural China-Central Asia Summit elevated the relations between China and the Central Asian countries. China-ASEAN cooperation made solid progress. Lancang-Mekong Cooperation developed rapidly. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization continued to grow. China and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to comprehensively promoting a strategic relationship of mutual benefit. The China-Australia relationship returned to the track of sound and steady growth. A united, inclusive, amicable and harmonious Asia will continue to serve as an anchor for world peace, a powerhouse for global growth and a new pacesetter for international cooperation.
China has pursued progress for all and stayed a steadfast member of the Global South. China worked for the historic expansion of the BRICS mechanism and supported the African Union in joining the G20, giving a strong boost to the representation and voice of developing countries. China actively implemented the Global Development Initiative (GDI), put forward three proposals facilitating Africa’s development, and deepened China’s mutually beneficial cooperation with Arab, Latin American and Caribbean, and Pacific Island countries, to support faster modernization in developing countries. Cooperation is truly beneficial when it delivers for everyone. Whether in global governance or in the process of development and prosperity, the Global South must not be left out.
China has stayed committed to promoting peace talks and served as a critical force for world peace. China made active efforts for the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. It is heartening to see that a “wave of reconciliation” was set off in the Middle East and that the future of the region is back in the hands of its people. China released the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, worked hard for the cessation of hostilities and for peace talks in the Ukraine crisis, made unremitting efforts for the de-escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and a comprehensive, just and lasting solution to the question of Palestine, and played a constructive role in addressing hotspot issues such as Afghanistan and Myanmar. The prospect of peace needs to be dearly cherished, and the seeds of peace must be protected with great care.
China has stayed committed to open development and served as a powerful engine of global recovery. The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was a success, at which over 150 countries and more than 40 international organizations jointly ushered in another golden decade of Belt and Road cooperation. The China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the China International Consumer Products Expo, and the China International Supply Chain Expo were held in succession. It has become an established consensus of the global business community that “the next China is still China.” Our economy grew by 5.2 percent last year, and has been contributing over 30 percent of global growth for more than 10 years running. Recently, China rolled out a series of major steps to expand high-standard opening up and promote high-quality development, including streamlining visa procedures and granting unilateral visa exemption to citizens of a number of countries, which are set to bring more benefits to investors and partners from across the world. It has been proven that openness brings progress and cooperation creates a bigger pie.
Your Excellencies,
Over the past year, you have worked tirelessly to facilitate closer friendship and cooperation between China and your respective countries and organizations. You visited many places in China. You engaged deeply with businesses and members of the public. Some of you used livestreaming platforms to promote the culture and specialties of your countries, winning the hearts of Chinese fans. I am sure that in this process, you must have felt the sincerity, friendship, enthusiasm and entrepreneurship of the Chinese people, and have had a first-hand experience of yourselves China’s vigor and vitality in the new era.
The year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is also a crucial year in advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts. At the recent Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs held in Beijing, it was made clear that building a community with a shared future for mankind is the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era. China stands ready to work with all countries for the future of humanity, for the well-being of the people, and for a brighter prospect of the world.
China is ready to work with all countries to cement the foundation of peace and security. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We will, together with all the relevant parties, reaffirm this important basic norm of international relations, and we will strictly abide by the purposes of the U.N. Charter, stay committed to the path of peaceful development, uphold international fairness and justice, oppose all acts of hegemonism and power politics, and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China will keep making efforts to deliver on the Global Security Initiative and contribute more to the political settlement of hotspot issues.
China is ready to work with all countries to pool strength for friendship and cooperation. We will take the 75th anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations as an opportunity to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. We will uphold our comprehensive strategic partnership with the European Union, and work for the solid and sustained progress of China-EU relations. We will deepen friendship, mutual trust and converging interests with our neighbors, and join hands with fellow developing countries to pursue greater development and revitalization. We will actively implement the Global Civilization Initiative to promote mutual understanding and affinity between people of different countries. We will steer clear of distractions and focus on implementing the common understandings reached between Chinese and American Presidents at their summit, to strive for a healthy, stable and sustainable China-U.S. relationship and explore the right way for the two countries to get along.
China is ready to work with all countries to follow the right path of multilateralism. We advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and work for greater democracy in international relations. Following the principle of planning together, building together and benefiting together, China stands for a more just and equitable global governance system and supports the Summit of the Future in concluding a Pact for the Future that reflects the trend of the times. China will work for the continued success of greater BRICS cooperation following its enlargement and support Brazil and Peru in hosting multilateral meetings, i.e. the G20 Summit and APEC meetings, so as to amplify the voice of the Global South and provide more public goods.
China is ready to work with all countries to build a future of development and prosperity. China will fully implement the eight major steps to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and let the “belt of development” and “road of happiness” bring benefits to more countries. China will work to deliver on the GDI and foster new drivers of global growth. China will work for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, oppose protectionism, and reject the attempt to roll back globalization and abuse the concept of security, to keep the global industrial and supply chains stable and unclogged, better facilitate personnel exchanges between China and the world, and provide more vitality and impetus for the healthy development of the global economy.
Dear Friends,
In a few days’ time, the Year of the Dragon will begin. In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon is a symbol of auspiciousness, wisdom and strength. In the new year, let us work together with the vigor of a flying dragon to make greater contribution to our friendship and cooperation and to world peace and prosperity. Thank you.