Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

In a few days, on October 1, we will embrace the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. On behalf of my colleagues at the Mission, I wish to welcome all dear friends, old and new, to today’s virtual event. Also taking this opportunity, I wish to thank you all for your longstanding interests in and support for China’s development and the Mission’s work.

Seventy-three years ago, with the founding of the PRC, the Chinese people have truly become the masters of their own country. In the past 73 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have forged ahead and achieved great progress on a socialist path with Chinese characteristics. In just a few decades, China has transformed from a poor and weak nation into the world’s second largest economy. The country continues to pioneer a Chinese path to modernization and common prosperity, and make one miracle after another come true in the history of human development.

At present, the profound changes unseen in a century have brought numerous difficulties and challenges to the world. The external environment has been complex and fluid. But that has not stopped China’s progress for a single moment. The past year meant a lot for us. In 2021, we celebrated the 100th birthday of the CPC. We brought about a historic solution to absolute poverty across the nation, and thus achieved the poverty reduction goal in the 2030 Agenda 10 years ahead of the schedule, and realized our first centenary goal. In the past year, amid the volatile and challenging international landscape, China maintained strategic focus on its path for high-quality development, and made steady progress toward its second centenary goal.

In the past year, we overcame tremendous challenges of the pandemic, and successfully held the Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics. With the motto “Together for a Shared Future”, the simple, safe and splendid events brought together athletes around the world, and left many unforgettable moments for the pandemic-affected world.

In the past year, we scored notable progress in China’s ecological conservation and sustainable development. The Chinese Government has steadily promoted energy restructuring, and built up a policy system for achieving carbon peak and neutrality. Green has become a defining feature of China’s development. China now has the world’s largest carbon market and the largest clean power generation system. Our installed capacities of hydro, wind, solar and biomass power generation all rank top in the world. These concrete actions are China’s contribution to the global climate governance.

In the past year, we pursued development as the top priority, and showed great resilience and vitality of China’s economy. In 2021, China’s GDP reached 17.7 trillion US dollars, accounting for 18.5 percent of the global total, and contributing over 30 percent on average to the world economic growth. China’s per capita GDP also exceeded 12,000 US dollars. Facing impacts of the pandemic and geopolitical turbulence, China has worked hard to ensure the safety and stability of global industrial and supply chains and the smooth cycle of world economy.

In the past year, we put people front and center, and followed a human rights development path with Chinese characteristics. This has brought a happier and more fulfilling life to the Chinese people. Our relentless efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic have provided maximum protection to the people’s life and health. Among major countries, China has the lowest morbidity rate and lowest mortality. China’s development is by the people, of the people, and for the people. The people’s support is our greatest source of confidence. According to polls conducted by authoritative international agencies, over the years, more than 90 percent of the Chinese public has been satisfied with the Chinese Government.

In the past year, we championed the principles of equality, mutual benefits, inclusiveness, cooperation and common development, and continued our contribution to world peace and global development. China actively advanced the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, practiced true multilateralism, and responded to global challenges in a responsible and constructive manner. We stood shoulder to shoulder with other countries in the fight against the pandemic, provided vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, and supported the wavier of vaccine IP, all in an effort to step up the global campaign for immunization. The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping have been warmly received by the international community. We have been actively implementing the two Initiatives, and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation for early harvests.

All these are hard-won achievements. Behind them are the solidarity and unremitting efforts of the Chinese people. Also behind them is the leadership of the CPC, that takes the well-being of the Chinese people as its pursuit and mission.

Dear Friends,

In half a month, the CPC will convene its 20th National Congress. This important meeting will be held at a critical time as China moves toward the goal of fully building a modern socialist country. At this meeting, the CPC will formulate the overarching goals, policies, and blueprint for China’s development in the next five years and beyond.

As China embarks on this new journey, we will continue our efforts in building a community with a shared future and bring more certainty, stability, consistency and positivity to this changing world. We will further reform and opening-up, and offer greater development opportunities, broader markets, and stronger development drivers through China’s high-quality development. We will continue to be actively engaged in international cooperation, and play our responsible and constructive role in addressing global challenges. We will also continue to practice true multilateralism, and firmly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international fairness and justice. At the same time, we will firmly oppose hegemony and power politics, and resolutely defend our state sovereignty, security and development interests.

Just few days ago, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi concluded his visit for this year’s UNGA high-level week. Amid the volatile international situation, this visit has reaffirmed China’s support to the UN and true multilateralism. It has also responded to the common expectations of developing countries, helped bring global development back on track, and demonstrated China's commitments and actions in addressing pressing challenges such as climate change, and food and energy crises. In doing so, China is providing its own wisdom and strength to solving the global governance dilemma. Moving forward, no matter how the international situation may change, China will always stand on the side of solidarity and cooperation, on the side of the times, on the side of fairness and justice, and on the side of the shared interests of the overwhelming majority of countries.

Taking this opportunity, I wish to again thank all countries and the UN for your tremendous support to China. I also thank all fellow representatives and our friends from the UN for the festive greetings and best wishes you sent me in the past few days. And thank you all for attending today’s event.

Thank you all！