On September 27th 2023, Ambassador Xiao Jianguo held the reception for the celebration of the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at Rizqun International Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei. Ambassador Xiao Jianguo delivered remarks, the full text is as follows:

Yang Berhomat Honorable Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, and Yang Mulia Pengiran Datin Hajah Noor Yashimah binti Pengiran Anak Haji Hashim,
Pengiran Pengiran, Pehin Pehin, Dato Dato, Datin Datin,
Senior governmental officials, representatives from legislative council,
Your Excellencies Ambassadors and High Commissioners from Diplomatic Corps,
Dear Chinese folks from all walks of life,
Distinguished guests, friends from media,
Ladies and gentlemen,       

Good evening!

Tonight, we gather together to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dato Amin Liew and Datin Yashimah for attending today's event as the Guests of Honor. Your presence graces our reception.

My warm welcome and sincere gratitude also go to all guests here today. Our National Day is October 1st, and this year's Mid-Autumn Festival falls on 29th September. They are adjacent. You are coming not only for the National Day celebration, but also for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and my cordial greetings and holiday wishes go to the Chinese citizens working here and overseas Chinese living here.

The past 74 years have witnessed China's journey of moving forward courageously despite all the challenges and hardships. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese nation has accomplished the great transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. Chinese people are now striding proudly on the new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects, and realize the national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization.

This year marks the start of the full implementation of the guiding principles set at the 20th CPC National Congress, and China's economic growth trends attract lots of attention. Against the backdrop of a sluggish recovery of the world economy, China's economy, with strong resilience, great potential, and sufficient vitality, enjoys good momentum of steady recovery and the growth rate performs better compared with other major economies.

In the first half of 2023, China's GDP grew by 5.5%. The “World Economic Outlook Report” predicts that China's economic growth will be 5.2% this year, contributing one-third of the world's total. Despite the impact of the shrinking external demand, China's export share in the international market has remained generally stable. The imports and exports with ASEAN Countries increased by 5.4%, with the growth rate approaching double digits for countries under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI).

In the first eight months, China's new foreign-invested enterprises increased by 33% year-on-year, the Foreign Direct Investment to the manufacture industry grew by 6.8%, with that of high-tech manufacture industry soared 19.7%. Recently the 220 Million US dollars Coffee Innovation Park invested by Starbucks in Shanghai China was opened, and Shell recently announced plans to construct its largest global electric vehicle (EV) charging hub in Shenzhen in Guangdong province, all these fully reflect the confidence of foreign investment in China for a long term.

China is fully confident, qualified, and capable of completing its economic and social development goals and tasks throughout the year. We will always adhere to the fundamental national policy of opening up to the world, pursue a mutually beneficial and win-win strategy with openness, thus to provide new opportunities for the world, and put continuous impetus to the recovery of the world economy.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,

In the past two years, Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed three initiatives, namely the Global Development Initiative(GDI), Global Security Initiative(GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative(GCI) respectively, serving as the public goods to the international community and providing solid support for building a community with a shared future for mankind. If one looks at the fields of climate change and ocean protection, one will feel that we're living at the same global village, on the same boat, facing the same problems, sharing a common destiny. Yesterday, the Chinese government officially published the White Paper titled A Global Community of Shared Future: China's Proposals and Actions to introduce the theoretical base, practice and development of a global community of shared future.

Currently, GDI has received support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, with over 70 countries including Brunei joining the “Group of Friends”. 41 countries, regions and international organizations have jointly promoted to build up the Global Development Promotion Center Network with nearly 200 practical cooperation projects, benefiting over 60 developing countries.

GSI has also been commended and supported by over 100 countries and international organizations. China has issued The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, actively promoted political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues and achieved a series of progress and deliverables, gaining wide recognition and positive responses from the international community. 

GCI aims at promoting inter-civilization exchanges and mutual learning, as well as the progress of human civilizations, thus to inject strong vigor in the cause of advancing the human modernization and building a community with a shared future for mankind. China will always be a constructor of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a promoter of progress of human civilizations.

Distinguished guests,

This year marks the 32nd anniversary of China-Brunei diplomatic ties, the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between the two countries, and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Under the strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and His Majesty Sultan Hassanal, and with the strategic docking of BRI and Brunei Vision 2035, China-Brunei relations have enjoyed healthy and steady progress, with pragmatic cooperation flourishing and BRI projects yielding remarkable fruits, bringing tangible benefits to the two countries and peoples.

Last year, bilateral trade reached a record high of 3 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of over 200 times compared with that of 1991, when bilateral ties were just established. In the first eight months this year only, bilateral trade volume has reached 1.71 billion U.S. dollars. From Hengyi Industries to Muara Port, from the Pulau Muara Besar Bridge to the Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Bridge, from Brunei's 500 thousand US dollar donation to Wuhan to China's donation of 152 thousand doses of vaccines to Brunei, many visible and tangible benefits have been harvested to the good of both two nations and peoples.

With the relaxation of pandemic control from the beginning of the year, followed by the continuous resumption of direct flights, bilateral exchanges and cooperations become more frequent and closer in the fields of politics, economy, culture, education, defense, people-to-people, media, etc. The connotation of China-Brunei strategic cooperative partnership has been continuously enriched with an even brighter future.

China and Brunei also maintain communication and coordination in regional and international affairs, making contributions to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. The trade between China and ASEAN went up by 16.8 times over the past two decades. Last year, the region accounted for 21.5 percent of the world's economic aggregate, up from 6.1 percent in 2002. The 2 billion people's living has improved tremendously. China-ASEAN relations have become the shining example of the most successful and robust one in the Asia-Pacific cooperation.

A week ago, the 20th China-ASEAN Expo was successfully held. Brunei signed a letter of intent to purchase over 2 billion US dollars of Chinese mid-sized aircrafts. It was the largest trade order ever at the Expo, fully demonstrating the high level cooperation between China and Brunei as well as China and ASEAN. China will continue to implement the concept of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in our relations with neighboring countries, to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home together with ASEAN, and jointly build a closer community with a shared future for China and ASEAN.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

I assumed my post in March this year, and presented the credentials to His Majesty two weeks ago. During the past seven months, I was deeply impressed by Brunei's beautiful environment and friendly people. I saw hundreds of Bruneian people boarding the PLA Navy Training Ship Qi Jiguang for a visit. I saw batches of Bruneian students going to China through the Chinese Government Scholarship and the Joint Scholarship Program. I saw Bruneian martial arts athletes winning medals in competition games both in China and across the world. I also was moved by the enthusiasm shown in the “Opening House” during Hari Raya Aidilfitri Celebration, by the joy at the airport when welcoming the reopening of the direct flights between the two countries, and by the unremitting diligence, hard working and self-improvement of the Chinese communities and schools.

A Chinese old saying goes like, “Nothing is invincible with the gathered strength of people, nothing is impossible with the collective wisdom of all.” Taking this opportunity, I'd like to express my heartfelt appreciation to those who have given full support to the Embassy and myself, and to all who have been long caring and supporting the development of China-Brunei relations. I stand ready to work with you all to promote bilateral relations to achieve new heights.

Dear friends,

The traditional Mid-Autumn Festival of the Chinese nation is coming in two days. Just like the ancient Chinese poem says, “The sea mirrors the rising moon so bright, though miles apart our hearts share tonight.” On this occasion of reunion and joyful gathering, I would like to extend my holiday wishes to all the overseas Chinese in Brunei, especially our compatriots from Taiwan region.

As everyone may know, China remains the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that has yet to realize complete national reunification. There is but one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. The Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal Government of China. The one-China principle represents the universal consensus of the international community and is consistent with the basic norms of international relations. Also it is the persistent policy of the Brunei Government. The national reunification is a long-cherished wish of 1.4 billion Chinese people and all those of Chinese descendants around the world. It is an historic necessity and essential step towards the great national rejuvenation. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the 19th Asian Games is taking place in full swing in Hangzhou, China. Athletes from both China and Brunei are going all out and striving bravely for the national honor. I congratulate the Bruneian Wushu athlete for winning the silver medal for a historic breakthrough and wish the delegation achieving more and enjoying a good stay and wonderful friendship in Hangzhou.

In conclusion, wish our great motherland happy birthday with more prosperity and vitality! Wish China-Brunei friendship lasts forever and the two peoples happiness and well-being! And wish everyone here good health, every happiness and success.

Thank you.