Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Good evening. Welcome to this reception.

Seven decades ago, the People's Republic of China was founded. Since then, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people embarked on a glorious journey in the history of human development.

Over the past seven decades, we have blazed a new trail and forged ahead. Based on China's reality and practice, we have found a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This path combines the Chinese wisdom and strengths of other societies and cultures. Thanks to reform and opening-up over the past four decades, China has experienced a transformation from introducing foreign capital and technology to going global with investment and from being a world workshop to a world market. Today, China is the world's largest trader of goods and an attractive destination of investment. We pursue development that is innovative, coordinated, green, open and beneficial to all. We take bold steps to adapt to global trends and explore our way forward. China has earned worldwide reputation with its high-speed rail, e-commerce and mobile payment. Advances have been made in big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The Belt and Road Initiative has created enormous development opportunities for countries involved. With real progress, we have contributed "China solution" to global development.

Over the past seven decades, we have worked tirelessly and made solid steps in our endeavors. We put people first, work for better lives for our people, and strive to do things right each step of the way. With years of hard work and concrete actions, China has become the second largest economy in the world. It has completed the process of industrialization in several decades which took developed countries several hundred years. China's GDP in 2018 was 176 times that of 1952, and the per capita GDP that year reached 9,732 US dollars. In the past 40 years, China lifted more than 850 million people out of poverty. Next year, all China's rural poor under the current standard will shake off poverty and China will become a moderately prosperous society, achieving a major goal of national development. Today, on the land of 9.6 million square kilometers, nearly 1.4 billion Chinese are living in peace, harmony and happiness and working together to make their dream come true－the great revitalization of the Chinese nation.

The past seven decades witnessed common progress of China and the rest of the world. Wit its own future linked with that of the world, China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace and a path of peaceful development. China stands firm in upholding world peace and international order. For years, China has contributed more than 30% to global growth, making it a key engine driving the world economy. China has contributed 70% of global poverty reduction. The stock of outbound direct investment has grown to the second largest in the world. In the past six years, cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has been going forward. It is a popular international public good that brings tangible benefits to people of relevant countries and creates new opportunities of common development.

The past seven decades recorded the joint efforts of all Chinese to build a beautiful home. People of the 56 ethnic groups of China are tightly united like pomegranate seeds. Their lives are getting better day by day and they are happier and more satisfied than ever. We are firmly committed to implementing "one country two systems" in Hong Kong and Macao, promoting exchange and cooperation between the two sides across the Taiwan Strait and the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, moving towards peaceful reunification of the Chinese nation. Sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, both home and abroad, take pride in a China of greater prosperity and international influence. They are more drawn to their own nation and culture and more determined to pursue the Chinese dream together.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

As a founding member of the UN, China has witnessed the development of the UN and the UN has seen China's outstanding contribution to world peace and development. China and the UN have become close partners of cooperation.

China is an upholder of multilateralism. We are firmly committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the UN-centered international system and the international order based on international law. We make concrete efforts to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, common security and shared prosperity. We advocate a community of a shared future for mankind.

China is a builder of world peace. China earnestly fulfills its responsibility as a permanent member of the Security Council and plays a constructive role in regional and international hot issues. China supports and takes part in UN peacekeeping operations. China is the second largest financial contributor and the largest troop-contributor among permanent members of the Security Council, honoring its commitment to maintaining world peace. Since 1989, China has dispatched over 40,000 peacekeepers to around 30 operations. A total of 21 Chinese military and police personnel lost their lives for peacekeeping. More than 2,500 peacekeepers from China are currently on duty in eight missions.

China is a contributor to global development. Standing in solidarity with other developing countries, we work hard for the formulation and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, take concrete actions to promote South-South cooperation, implement the Paris Agreement, promote an open world economy, and actively develop good relations with countries across the world. Over the past 70 years, China has provided over 400 billion RMB yuan in foreign aid and sent over 600,000 aid workers to nearly 170 countries and international organizations, making great contribution to the common development of all countries.

China is a strong supporter of the United Nations. We have established China-UN Peace and Development Fund. We pay membership dues and peacekeeping expense on time and in full with a great sense of responsibility as the second largest financial contributor. We take an active part in UN management and reform affairs, and support the United Nations in practicing multilateralism and playing a bigger role in international affairs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

The People's Republic of China has traveled an extraordinary journey in the past 70 years. We are proud of the past and confident in the future.

In his speech at the 70 Session of the UN General Assembly, President Xi Jinping said, "The dream of the Chinese people is closely connected with the dreams of other peoples of the world. We cannot realize the Chinese dream without a peaceful international environment, a stable international order and the understanding, support and help from the rest of the world. The realization of the Chinese dream will bring more opportunities to other countries and contribute to global peace and development."

The world today is undergoing complex changes. Risks and challenges facing the development of countries are on the rise. It is all the more important to uphold multilateralism, focus on development, take a responsible attitude, pursue win-win cooperation, and create a better future for mankind.

China will remain true to its mission as a UN member state, continue to fulfill its firm commitment to the UN and multilateralism, and work more closely with the UN and its member states in a joint effort to build a community with a shared future and write a new chapter of development of China and the world.

To conclude, let me propose a toast:

To the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China,

To cooperation between China and the United Nations,

To peace and prosperity of the world, and

To our friendship.

Cheers!