Toasting the long-lasting China-Samoa friendship

By Wang Xuefeng 02 October 2016, 12:00AM

Wang Xuefeng 

Ambassador of China to Samoa 

Remarks at Reception in Celebration of 67th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China


Tonight we gather here for the joyous occasion in celebrating the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Samoa, I would like to express my warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the distinguished guests for your gracious presence. I would also like to extend my sincere festival greetings to my Chinese compatriots as well as all the Chinese friends who are currently working here in Samoa, including all the engineers, technicians, construction workers and Chinese volunteer teachers. My best wishes also go to all the friendly Samoan people.

Over the past 67 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially over the past 37 years since Reform and Opening-up, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, we have successfully lifted over 700 million people out of poverty and have significantly improved the livelihood of over 1.3 billion people and we have achieved tremendous development that has caught attention from all over the world. 

China, the largest developing country, has now successfully become the second largest economy, the largest commodity trading power as well as the third largest country in foreign direct investment in the world. 

We have always been adhering to the independent foreign policy of peace and the fundamental policy of opening-up. 

We have actively involved in building a fairer and more equitable international order. China’s interaction with outside world has deepened and we have friends all over the world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the year 2016, we found ourselves in a complicated international environment and under downward pressure on the domestic economy, we have been determined to promote innovative, coordinated, green, open, and shared development, carry out structural reform on the supply side, and help people to pool their ideas and talents through a synergy of business start-ups and innovation. As a result, the Chinese economy has on the whole maintained stability while making steady progress. In the first half of the year, China’s GDP grew by 6.7%, to which the final consumption expenditure contributed 73.4%, 13.2% higher than last year. 

The added value of the tertiary industry took up 54.1% of GDP, 14.7% higher than the second industry. 

The industry added value and fixed-asset investment in central and west China was much larger than that in the east. 

And the energy consumption per unit of GDP has dropped by 5.2%. These figures show that our efforts in upgrading industries and structural reform worked.

Just about three weeks ago, the G20 Summit held in Hangzhou, China achieved a great success and the whole world was very much impressed. Leaders of G20 member states and 8 guest countries as well as heads of 7 international organizations attended the G20 Hangzhou Summit, themed “Towards an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy”. 

The summit has reached the Hangzhou Consensus on boosting world economic growth, demonstrated the faith of tiding over difficulties together, and given the answer to resolve weak global economic growth, that is, innovation and reform. 

The G20 Hangzhou Summit has mapped out a series of practical action plans, including the 28 specific outcome documents such as the G20 Strategy for Global Trade Growth and the G20 Guiding Principles for Global Investment Policy. 

Just as President Xi Jinping said, G20 attaches more importance to action than mere talking.

More importantly, in the area of development, the G20 Hangzhou Summit achieved three “firsts”: the first time to give priority to development in global macro policy framework, the first time to draft an action plan for the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the first time to take collective actions to aid the industrialization of Africa and least developed countries. 

The three “firsts” send out an important signal, that is, the G20 not only belongs to its member states, but also the whole world, especially developing countries and their people.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This September happens to mark the first anniversary of the arrival of my wife and myself in Samoa. During this one year, we have been to many places in Upolu, Savaii and Manono. 

We are very much impressed by the beautiful natural scenery, the wonderful ecological environment, the unique traditional culture as well as the warm friendship and gracious hospitality of the local people. 

By Wang Xuefeng 02 October 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>