Beijing, February 5, 2026

Your Excellency Ambassador Martin Mpana, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Ambassadors and Diplomatic Envoys, 
Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to join you all to ring in the Chinese New Year. First of all, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I would like to extend festive greetings to you all, and express sincere appreciation to you for your hard work over the past year in furthering the friendship between China and the world. I also wish to thank the Beijing Municipality and Jiangxi Province for the great support they have given to this event.

A few days ago, President Xi Jinping accepted credentials presented by new foreign ambassadors to China. He encouraged the ambassadors to travel widely across the country, gain a full and deep understanding of the multifaceted and real China, and contribute to stronger friendship and cooperation between China and their countries. Just now I talked to many ambassadors and we watched a video clip together. I am delighted that over the past year, you have visited so many places in China, from the North to the South, from cities to rural villages. You have traced with your own footsteps the epic journey of Chinese modernization, advanced exchanges and cooperation with dedication and commitment, and written many new, splendid stories.

Here I wish to quote Somalian Ambassador H.E. Hodan Osman. She said emotionally and philosophically in Chinese that Africa and China will continue traveling on the same path in one hundred and even one thousand years. An ancient Chinese poem also reads, “A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near.” The Chinese nation is open and inclusive, and values commitments and justice. We wish to increase mutual understanding and walk together hand in hand with all peoples across the world. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China will, as always, support you in your work to forge closer bonds and make you feel warm and comfortable in China, your second home.

Friends,

The year 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (U.N.). Over the past year, despite the headwinds and turbulence in the international environment, China has stayed committed to the right path in its diplomacy. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, we solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War and made a strong call for peace and justice. We stood firmly against unilateralism and protectionism and resolutely defended the multilateral trading system. We worked actively to deescalate hotspot issues and explore solutions that address both the symptoms and root causes. In particular, the Global Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping has pointed the way forward for a world amidst critical evolution of the global order. The Initiative won the support of over 150 countries and international organizations shortly after its announcement.

Looking back over the past year, no matter how the world has changed, China’s position of safeguarding international fairness and justice has remained steadfast. Its commitment to building a community with a shared future for humanity has stayed unwavering. In a fluid and turbulent world, it has continued to be a source of much-needed certainty and demonstrated valuable constructiveness. All this has won increasing understanding and recognition from the international community.

Entering the new year, the world becomes even more volatile and unstable, and peace and development are under serious challenge. History has repeatedly proven that division and confrontation lead nowhere, and global solidarity is the only right choice. China stands ready to work with all forces for progress across the globe, bearing in mind the future of humanity and the well-being of the people, to jointly open up an even brighter future.

Let us work together to uphold peace and the rule of law. The principle of sovereignty is the cornerstone of postwar peace. The authority of the U.N. should only be strengthened, not weakened. All countries should abide by the international law and its rules, adhere to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, jointly safeguard the hard-won peace, and prevent the world from slipping into the abyss ruled by the law of the jungle.

Let us work together to promote openness and development. This year marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and we are going to host APEC 2026. We will advance high-quality development and high-standard opening up, and embark on the path toward openness and connectivity with countries across the world. We will work to upgrade free trade zones, deliver on the zero-tariff policy, and add strong and new momentum into the development and prosperity of all countries.

Let us work together to tackle crises and challenges. China will work with all parties to speed up the implementation of the Global Governance Initiative. We welcome more countries to take part in the establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization, join the International Organization for Mediation, meet climate challenges with united response, and inject stronger momentum into the cause of multilateralism.

Let us work together to deepen understanding and friendship. We should champion the common values of humanity, further facilitate people-to-people exchanges, enhance the mutual understanding and affinity among the people of all countries, make the garden of world civilizations more diverse and colorful, and cement the foundation of friendship for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Friends,

Yesterday was Lichun, or the Beginning of Spring, one of the 24 solar terms in the Chinese lunar calendar. In a few days, it will be the Spring Festival of the Year of the Horse. The horse is a symbol of courage, wisdom and resilience. Let us charge ahead like galloping horses with full vitality and collective strength, and make new contributions to still greater friendship and cooperation among people of all countries and to the building of an even better world.