Photo by Niu Xiaolei/Xinhua News Agency

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon,

Dear Colleagues,

Director-General of the Department of Culture of Fujian Province,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

On the occasion of China’s Presidency of the Security Council for the month of February, we are most pleased to present to you this evening the dance drama “Dream of the Maritime Silk Road”. Thank you for joining us.

Over 2,000 years ago, the peoples on the Eurasian Continent, with tremendous courage and diligence, opened up trade passages connecting civilizations in Asia, Europe and Africa. These passages, the ancient Silk Road as we call them, were milestones in trade, economic, cultural and political interactions between China and other parts of the world, and a splendid chapter in the history of inter-civilization exchange and harmony. Given their scope and importance, they were in effect an earlier version of globalization at that time.

This evening’s performance, in the form of Chinese classical dance, will bring us back to the hustle and bustle along the ancient Maritime Silk Road 800 years and give us food for thought regarding interactions today.

Peace and development are the theme of the times. Today’s world calls for a new type of international relations centering on win-win cooperation. China is working with numerous countries to build a Silk Road Economic Belt and a 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. We focus on where our interests converge and work for win-win results through cooperation. The Belt and Road initiative is making good headway and will bring new vigor and vitality to the development and prosperity of the countries and the world at large.

Ladies and gentlemen,

2015 is a landmark year. The UN will commemorate its 70th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The UN rose from the ashes of devastation and embodies the aspiration of people all over the world for peace and development. Let’s work together to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to promote peace and development and to foster a new type of international relations of win-win cooperation. China remains deeply committed and will continue to contribute to this endeavor.

I wish you all a very enjoyable evening. Thank you.