On September 25th 2024, Ambassador Xiao Jianguo held the reception for the celebration of the 75th 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:

Honorable Yang Berhomat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman and spouse, the Guest of Honor,
Distinguished senior Bruneian officials, Excellencies and colleagues from diplomatic corps,
Friends from Chinese communities and media,
Fellow Chinese workers,teachers and students in Brunei,
Dear colleagues especially coming from China for tonight’s event,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good evening to you all!

Following traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival a few days ago, we gather here today to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, with these two events comingso closely and giving us double happiness. First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Guest of Honor Yang Berhomat Dato Ahmaddin and Datin to grace the reception, which gives us great honor. I extend my heartfelt welcometo each guest present today for your gracious attendance. Also mywarm greetings and regardsto all Chinese studying,working and living in Brunei.

On October 1st, 1949, on the Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, Chairman Mao Zedong solemnly proclaimed the founding of the People's Republic of China. Since then, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese people have striven in unity and achieved tremendous transformation for a New China, which has stood up, grown richer, and become stronger, and now embarks on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects and towards the rejuvenation of the nation through Chinese modernizationon all fronts .

Throughout the past 75 years, China has overcomedcountless challenges and achieved remarkable accomplishment, becoming the world's second-largest economy, largest industrial nation and largest goods trader. It becomes a major trading partner for over 140 countries and regions. In the first half of this year, China's GDP reached 61.7 trillion yuan, with a year-on-year growth of 5.0%. The total value of imports and exports reached 21.2 trillion yuan, holding the world's largest and second-largest market shares for exports and imports for 15 consecutive years. Chinese economy is now running smoothly with steady progress, with new growth drivers emerging rapidly,new quality productive forcesnurtured and strengthened, and new advancements achieved in high-quality development. We have every confidence to achieve this year's development goals, continue to steer China's economy along the path of high-quality development, and make Chinese contributions to the world economy as well.

Dear guests and friends,

In July, the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was successfully convened, making significant decisions to further deepen reforms comprehensively to promote Chinese modernization, addressing over 300 important reform measures,whichwe believe, will profoundly change China and significantly influence the world. Talking about this, I would like to share with you two aspects.

Firstly, the plenary session emphasized that openness is a distinctive feature of Chinesemodernization. China will continue to adhere to reform and opening-up, whilebacked by the super-sized domestic market advantages, to enhance openness capabilities by expanding international cooperation, and to build a new open economy system, sending out a clear signal for a more high-level openness.

Secondly, it was stressed during the Plenum that Chinese modernization is the modernization of peaceful development. In foreign relations, China remains firmly committed to pursuing an independent foreign policy of peace, and dedicated to promoting a community with a shared future for mankind. Holding dear humanity’s shared values, we will pursue to implement the Global Development Initiative(GDI), the Global Security Initiative(GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative(GCI), calling for an equal and orderly multi-polar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. It is clear that China will hold high the banner of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit, remain firm in pursuing a strategy of opening up for mutual benefit.We are committed to inject more positive energy to world peace and create new opportunities for the world with Chinese modernization. We will join hands with all countries to achieve a win-win situation and deliver greater benefits to all peoples.

Dear guests and friends,

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of Brunei's independence. China and Brunei are close neighbors across the sea, trustworthy friends and close partners for common development, setting an example of harmonious coexistence, mutual benefit and win-win interactions between countries of different sizes.Under the strategic guidance of the two Heads of State, the two sides enjoy deepened political mutual trust,fruitful exchanges and cooperation in various fields, close coordination in regional and international affairs, which have not only brought benefits to the two countries, but also contributed to regional peace, development and stability.

In the past, we stood by and reached out to each other with a common goal in mind. More than 600 years ago, the Chinese navigator Zheng He of Ming Dynasty visited Brunei twice during his voyages, and the King of Boni also visited Nanjing, where he was treated with state honours by Ming Dynasty,illustrating the true and ever-lasting friendship between our two peoples.  

At present, we remain firmly committed to the shared aspiration forgedin early days. We helped each other during Covid pandemic, keeping the ‘Kampong Spirit’ alive. With the synchronization of Belt and Road Initiative with Wawasan Brunei 2035,bilateral trade reached 1.53 billion US dollars in the first half of this year, marking a 27.6% year-on-year increase. The second phase of Hengyipetrochemical project is steadily advanced, the Muara port container terminal expansion project was successfully launched, the trial planting of hybrid riceyielded bountiful results, the protocol on Brunei's aquatic products to China was signed, and is now well implemented with over 300 tonnes of lobster and tuna already exported to China. The high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between our two countries brings more tangible benefits toour nations and the well-being of the peoples.Yesterday, the 21st China-ASEAN Expo was successfully opened in Guangxi, China. ASEAN countries including Brunei actively participate in this annual event, which fully demonstrates high level of China-Brunei and China-ASEAN cooperation. China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner for many years, and the bilateral relationsbecome the most successful and vibrant model among Asia-Pacificcooperation. China has always taken ASEAN as the priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, advancing a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, joining hands with regional countries to maintain peace, stability and security in this region while promoting mutual development and prosperity.

Dear guests and friends,

70 years ago, together with Indian and Myanmar counterparts, China put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, answering the very important question of how to handle state-to-state relations. Today, focusing on the shared and fundamental interests of all peoples, President Xi Jinping put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, providing a new answer to what kind of world to build and how to build it. The vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind carries forward the same spirit of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Both are rooted in traditional Chinese values including beingamicable to neighbors and promoting harmony among nations, demonstrating China's commitment to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world of lasting peace, universal security and shared prosperity.

China has established various forms of communities of a shared future with dozens of countries and regions. Belt and Road cooperation has attracted the participation of more than three-quarters of countries in the world and dozens of international organizations. The GDI, GSI, and GCI have garnered a strong response and support from the international community. Earlier this month, the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was successfully held in Beijing and the bilateral relations between China and all African countries have been elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era. The joint pursuit of modernization by China and Africa will for sure set off a wave of modernization in the Global South and open a new chapter for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Dearguests and friends,

For this year’s National Day reception,the embassy especially prepared a photo exhibition of Sichuan province of China. I would like to extend my appreciation to Sichuan Province and the Chinese Wushu delegation for their contribution. They will bring us wonderful cultural demonstrations later. I wish that,through the exhibition and the demonstrations, you may understand the customs and cultures of Sichuan province which we call the “Homeland of Panda”, showcasing the achievements of Chinese modernization by the Chinese people.

Referring to Sichuan Province, I have to mention that it is the hometown of the late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China’s reform and opening-up policy. As this year marks the 120th birthanniversary of Deng Xiaoping, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech during a commemorative meeting, pointing out that realizing China’s complete reunification has long been the aspiration of Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and other revolutionariesof the older generation, a common will of Chinese people both at home and overseas, and an unstoppable historical trend. We believe that the complete reunification of the motherland must and will be achieved, because this is not only the common aspiration of 1.4 billion Chinese people but also of millions of overseas Chinese. It is a must and the historical inevitability of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my festival greeting to the compatriots in Taiwan.

In conclusion, Let’s wish the great motherland China a happy birthday and prosperity! May the friendship between China and Brunei last forever! Once again, I would like to extend my appreciation to Yang Berhomat Dato Ahmaddin and Datin for gracing our National Day Reception, and wish all guests enjoy continued good health, successand happiness!

Thank you all.