Good evening!

Today, we gather together to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, I would like to express my sincere welcome and heartfelt thanks to all the guests attending the reception, as well as to the Sichuan Overseas Friendship Association Cultural Exchange Mission that has traveled a long way to be here!

Over the past 74 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has undergone earth-shaking changes, and created the “two miracles” rarely seen elsewhere in the world, namely rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

Over the past 74 years, under the strong leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have successfully blazed a path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. TheReform and Opening-up have not only changed Chinaprofoundly, but also made the world a much better place.

Over the past 74 years, under the strong leadership of the CPC, the Chinese path to modernization is expanding wider and wider. China has realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and we are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.

Ladies and gentlemen,

At present, the world is facing increasing instability and uncertainty, and the global economy is undergoing a rocky recovery. Nevertheless, China's economy has maintained a good momentum of rebound and improvement. In the first half of this year, China's GDP exceeded 59.3 trillion RMB, hitting a year-on-year growth of 5.5 percent,  higher than last year's growth rate of 3%, and higher than the world's major developed economies during the same period. The IMF predicts that China's economic growth rate this year will be 5.2 percent, contributing to world economic growth by one third.Encountering a complicated and challenging external environment, China's economy survives from the harsh pressure by securing its scale and improving its quality. China's economy will remain on a positive trajectory over the long run and achieve the steady growth on the track of high-quality development, continuing to inject confidence and impetus into the global recovery.

Against the backdrop of treacherous international circumstances, China firmly upholds international justice, advocates and practicestrue multilateralism, and unequivocally opposes hegemony and power politics in all forms. We meet at a time of momentous changes that are consequential to the world, to our times, and to history. Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forward the idea of building aCommunity with a Shared Future of Mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. In the light of the future and destiny of mankind, all countries should abandon the cold-war mentality and zero-sum game, unite and collaborate in efforts to address common challenges, and work together to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. Only in this way could we make the world a better place, for the sake of the next generation and the generations to come. The Chinese proposals have made great contributions to address global challenges, lead innovation in global governance and promote the common progress of human civilization, thus warmly welcomed by the international community.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The friendly exchanges between China and Bangladeshcould be traced back to more than a thousand years ago. Since its establishment in 1975, our bilateral ties has been defined by mutual trust and joint development, setting an example of win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. The everlasting friendship between the two peoples has been passed on from generation to generation.

China and Bangladesh are time-tested friendswith unwavering mutual trust. In 2016, Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping and the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly upgraded our bilateral relations to strategic partnership of cooperation, which was further deepened during the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s official visit to China in 2019. Last month, the two leaders held a successful meeting in South Africa after four years, providing strategic guidance for the development of China-Bangladesh relations. The two sides have long beenupholding each other on respective core interests and concerns. China supports Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and in opposing external interference, so that the country can maintain domestic unity and stability and achieve development and revitalization. Bangladesh firmly pursues the one-China principle and appreciates the important role China has played in promoting regional peace and stability. The two sides are committed to further deepening strategic cooperation and thereby uplifting China-Bangladesh relations to a higher level in the new era.

China and Bangladesh are close partners for joint development. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the launching of the Belt and Road Initiative by Chinese President H.E. Xi Jinping. Cooperation between China and Bangladesh under the BRI has also entered a harvest season. Bangladesh is the first South Asian country to join the BRI. Over the past seven years, the BRI has taken root and blossomed in the golden Bay of Bengal. Mega projects like the Padma Multi-function Bridge and its Rail Link, the DasherkandiSewage Treatment Plant, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River and many other mega projects have been completed one after another, making significant contributions to improving the people's livelihoods and upgrading infrastructure conditions in Bangladesh. The Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke highly of BRI that it has opened a new door of development for Bangladesh. Looking ahead, the two countries should seizethe new historical opportunities of development, further integrate development strategies, carry out Belt and Road cooperationtargeting high-quality development, andexploit our respective economic advantages to complement and supplement each other. To specify, we could deepen cooperation in the fields of infrastructure development, information technology, new energy, agriculture, so on and so forth. With joint effort, we would definitely realize the Chinese Dream of the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation and Bangladesh's Vision 2041.

China and Bangladesh are good brothers supporting each other. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping's proposal of the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in developing relations between China and its neighboring countries. Over the past decade, China has adhered to this diplomatic guideline and actively developed the amicable neighborhood relations. On occasion of the International Children's Day this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping replied to letter from Bangladeshi child Alifa Chin,encouraging her to study hard, pursue her dreams and carry on the traditional friendship between Bangladesh and China. The reply from President Xi Jinping has been warmly welcomed in both countries, giving new historical significance and contemporary connotation to the friendship between the two countries. There are many other touching stories like the one of Alifa Chin, which have been widely spread across China and Bangladesh. We have fought back to back against common challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the current surge of dengue fever. At regional and international arenas, we always respect, understand and uphold each other to sustain our common interests.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good relations between countries derives from friendly ties between the peoples through frequent contacts. It is an important consensus reached by the leaders of China and Bangladesh to further strengthen people-to-people interaction and cultural exchanges. China has introduced a series of facilitating measures to meet the huge demand for international travelsand personnel exchanges. For the time being, there are 50 direct flights between the two countries on weekly basis, with a capacity of commuting ten thousand people. This year by far, the Embassy of China in Bangladesh has worked closely with the Bangladeshi government and various sectors of the country and managed dozens of delegations of the Bangladeshi government, political parties, media, think tanks and youth to visit China. In turn, the amount of Chinese enterprises and Chinese people heading to Bangladesh for investment and tourism has also increased by significant scale.

China attaches great importance to the betterment of relations with Bangladesh. The Embassy is committed to continuingthe joint efforts withBangladeshi friends from all walks of life to promote the strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level. I call upon the Chinese enterprises in Bangladesh to proactively undertake social responsibilities, and the Chinese nationals in Bangladesh to further integrate into the local society, so as to contribute more to the promotion of friendship between the two countries.

Ladies and gentlemen.

The 19th Asian Games is being held in Hangzhou, China. Bangladesh has sent an all-star delegation of sportsmen and sportswomen to the games. We wish them excel in the competitions and make the name of Bangladesh heard loud and clear by the world.

My sincere appreciation goes to all those who have contributed to the China-Bangladesh friendship.

May the great nation of China prosper and the Chinese people live in peace and happiness.

May the friendship between China and Bangladesh last for long and forever.

May all our guests and friends good health.

Thank you.