Your Excellency Senior Minister of State Ms. Sim Ann,
Members of the Parliament of Singapore,
Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

We have such an august gathering to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on the Mid-Autumn Festival. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, I’d like to express my sincere regards and heartfelt gratitude to friends from all walks of life who have given care to China’s development and supported China-Singapore friendship.

For the past 75 years, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has united and led the Chinese nation in successfully finding the Chinese path to modernization, and in creating the two major miracles of fast economic development and long-term social stability. China has successfully accomplished the daunting task of eliminating absolute poverty, contributing to over 70 percent of poverty reduced globally. China’s contribution to global economic growth has exceeded 30 percent for multiple years in a row. These constitute not only China’s major achievements, but also great contributions to global development. 

The CPC held in July this year the third plenary session of its 20th Central Committee. This session is of milestone significance as it draws a new blueprint for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. It has also sent a clear signal to the world: China will improve its institutions and mechanisms for high-standard opening up, promote high-quality economic development and build a high-level socialist market economy. China will continue to inject more stability and certainty to the far-from-tranquil world and offer more broad-based opportunities for cooperation through its own development. 

In the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by five percent despite a challenging and complicated external environment. A total of 26,870 new foreign enterprises were set up, up by 14.2 percent year on year, and close to RMB500 billion yuan of foreign investment was made in China, many of which comes from businesses here in Singapore. This is a vote of confidence in China’s development prospects by the international community. As always, China stands ready to share its development opportunities with the rest of the world to deliver on the Global Development Initiative and build a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends, 

It’s been almost six months since I assumed the office of Chinese Ambassador to Singapore. My interactions with people across the Singapore society in my tight schedule have left me deeply impressed with the closeness, strength and depth of China-Singapore relations. The China-Singapore Social Governance Forum was held this June in eight years’ time and another JCBC meeting will be held in Singapore at the end of this year. China has received multiple Singapore’s Cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, who in his recent successful visit met with both old and new friends from the Chinese side to have detailed discussion on implementing the important common understandings reached by leaders of our two countries and on deepening Chinese-Singapore practical cooperation across the board. Singapore has also received a large number of Chinese delegations from central to local governments. Thanks to our two countries’ mutual visa exemption policy, two-way people-to-people flows are thriving. China-Singapore trade and investment ties remain strong, with new progress made continuously in cooperation in such areas as digitalization, energy, scientific research and governance. All these achievements have given us more reasons to have greater confidence as well as higher expectations for an even brighter future of China-Singapore relations. 

In this turbulent and complex world, China, Singapore and the vast majority of Asian countries are working toward the following goals: 

First, promoting social development. By heeding the voice of its people, Singapore has decided to renew its social compact to enable Singaporeans to realize a “refreshed Singapore dream” where everyone feels there is hope and chance to get a fair shot in life. Singapore has made hard-won achievements along the way. On the part of China, we always put the people front and center and ensure that the people can benefit more and fairer from modernization. A legend entrepreneur in Southeast Asia, who is well in his 100s, once observed a few years ago, “China has a history that spans 5,000 years. But you barely see leaders as wise as those who have come to the fore in the past three decades. These leaders want advancement for the country and prosperity for the people. They are true patriots who are loyal to their duties. They put their hearts and souls into China’s national development. And they are keen on improving people’s lives. Looking around the world, you can hardly find leaders like them.” 

Second, upholding world peace. Singapore strongly believes that people in all countries are entitled to a dignified life in a peaceful environment. Therefore it has provided humanitarian assistance for war-stricken areas and advocates that conflicts should be resolved through negotiations. Likewise, China sees it as its own responsibility to uphold world peace and prosperity. Guided by this responsibility, China puts forward the Global Security Initiative, actively engages in mediation and promotes political settlement of hotspot issues. Countries in the region are also jointly calling for peace and connectivity over chaos, decoupling or severing of supply chains. 

Third, pursuing co-existence in harmony. Singapore advocates preserving Asian ethos and values, and encourages unity, hard-working, openness and inclusiveness. China firmly supports ASEAN centrality and ASEAN community building, actively implements the Global Civilization Initiative, and strives to build Asia—our common home—in the Asian way of mutual respect, equality and amity. 

Our reception today is also attended by many fellow Chinese compatriots. I want to express my sincere gratitude and festive greetings to you for your important contributions to China-Singapore friendship. Next year will be the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Singapore. Leaders of our two countries have already drawn a blueprint for the future of our relationship: an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership. Let us march toward that goal, deepen strategic communication, enhance practical and efficient cooperation,and jointly create a future that is more inclusive, open, green and sustainable. 

To conclude, please join me in wishing prosperity for China and Singapore, and happiness for Chinese and Singaporean people. Long live China-Singapore friendship! 

Wish you all a happy Mid-Autumn Festival! May you enjoy health and success!