Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen and friends,

I am very much delighted to have you here today at the Chinese Mission. Thank you for honouring me with your presence upon my assumption of office.

I am most privileged and honoured to be accredited as China's new Permanent Representative to Geneva, not only because of its beautiful lakes and mountains, but most importantly, its position as home to many international organizations with numerous international conferences. Geneva is an important stage for multilateral diplomacy.

Geneva is not unfamiliar to me. I was here in Geneva with the Graduate School of International Studies as a student about 20 years ago. The happy time of my school life as well as the warmth and friendship of the local people are memorable.

Geneva is also a place that started China's multilateral diplomacy. In 1954, as you may recall, late Premier Zhou Enlai led the Chinese delegation to the Geneva Conference, ushering China onto the multilateral diplomatic stage. And China has, over the years, fully engaged itself in multilateral affairs on all fronts. It is not only an active participant, but also an important contributor to the relevant international systems and regimes. The Chinese Mission here has also worked hard and contributed to expanding its relations and cooperation with the UN agencies and other international organizations based in Geneva.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The present world is witnessing major economic challenges, coupled with major structural changes or adjustments. The impact of the global economic crisis is still with us, while global challenges such as climate change, energy and resources, public health security have become increasingly prominent. In addition, the present world is also witnessing international or regional hot issues here and there. 2010 is a very important year for the international efforts to combat financial crisis in promotion of early world economic recovery.

Collective efforts are essential, under the present new circumstances, if the above global problems are to be put behind us. No country can do it alone. To further advance the noble course of peace and development for humanity, intensified cooperation and coordinated actions are called for on the part of the international community. The Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said during a recent press conference, "the cold-war mentality and zero-sum game theory have become anachronistic. And the right way to survive and thrive is stick together in tough times like passengers in the same boat and pursue mutual benefit and win-win progress".

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China has all along championed multilateralism, and we have been resolute in supporting the positive role of United Nations in maintaining world peace and security, promoting common development and safeguarding human rights. We've also stood for intensified international cooperation to meet global challenges. Over the year, China has, for its part, actively participated in international cooperation to address international financial crisis and climate change, and played a unique and constructive role in a series of major international conferences.

At the just-concluded Third Session of the 11th National People's Congress, Premier Wen Jiabao said in his Report of the Work of the Government, that, in 2010, "China will continue to use the G20 financial summit and other major multilateral activities as our main platforms for actively participating in the process of change in international systems and safeguarding the interests of developing countries. We will make overall plans for coordinating bilateral and multilateral diplomacy as well as promote further, comprehensive development of our relations with major powers, neighboring countries, and developing countries. We will continue to carry out diplomatic work in climate change, energy and resources cooperation, and other areas, and play a constructive role in finding proper solutions to hot issues and global problems".

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Geneva, under new circumstances, will be a even more importance multilateral stage with broader agenda. We, for our part, stand ready to work closely with our friends here in a bid to advance the multilateral diplomatic work on all fronts, so as to help serve China's domestic social and economic development, and to contribute to the durable peace and common prosperity of the world. I myself and the Chinese Mission are willing to serve as a window, through which, to promote the understanding, exchanges and cooperation between China and the world.

The Expo 2010 Shanghai is going to unveil on 1 May this year in China. With the theme of "Better City, Better Life", Expo 2010 represents the common aspiration of all mankind for a better living in future urban nvironments. And it will also be a wonderful occasion for dialogue between human civilizations. I'd like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome you all to the Shanghai Expo.

Thank you all.