Your Excellency State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Madam Le Aimei,
Your Excellencies Diplomatic Envoys and Representatives of International Organizations and the Spouses,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

How time flies. Once again, we are gathered here to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new. Let me start by extending, on behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, our warmest greetings to all the diplomatic envoys and the spouses, and heartfelt thanks to all the ministries and departments at home for the strong support they have given to China's diplomatic work over the past year.

The year of 2014 marks the beginning of China's endeavor to comprehensively deepen reform. To realize the two "centenary goals", the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary, has rolled out a series of important measures in governance and led the 1.3 billion people in scoring major achievements in the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Third Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee convened last year launched the historic process to comprehensively deepen reform. At the Fourth Plenum held this year, the CPC Central Committee made strategic arrangements to comprehensively promote the rule of law. Mutually supportive and reinforcing, the two tasks will surely accelerate China's progress toward completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and lay a more solid foundation for the realization of the Chinese dream of great national renewal.

Despite the sluggish global economy, China has maintained its confidence, resisted downward pressure, adopted precise measures and exercised targeted regulation. As a result, the Chinese economy has enjoyed stable performance with its growth kept within a proper range. And all the macro targets set at the beginning of this year will be successfully met. The Chinese economy not only continues to grow at the fastest speed in the world, but also keeps presenting the world with "China opportunities" for development. It is estimated that in 2014, China's economic growth accounts for 27.8% of the world economic growth and over 50% of growth in Asia.

The Central Economic Work Conference was successfully concluded this morning. The conference has set the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability and sent a positive signal that the Chinese economy has reached a new normal.

The new normal means we will adapt to and steer the reasonable shift from high speed to mid-to-high speed growth, turn the size- and speed-oriented growth model to one that values quality and efficiency, lay greater emphasis on innovation, do more to improve people's lives, and make bigger strides in reform and opening-up. We will not only embark on a path of green and low-carbon sustainable development to the benefit of the Chinese people, but also deepen the win-win strategy of opening-up for common prosperity of the world as a whole.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

The year 2014 is a year of bumper harvest for China's diplomacy as we make all-round progress. Aiming to build a global network of partnerships, we have established 72 partnerships of different types with 67 countries and five regional organizations. This new practice of forging partnerships rather than alliances speaks for our diplomatic approach with distinctive Chinese features and as a major country.

With a view to realizing the common development of China and European and Asian countries, we have, in the ancient Silk Road spirit of mutual learning and harmonious co-existence, put forward and promoted the initiative of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. To date, over 50 countries along the Belt and the Road have responded and joined in the initiative. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is on the horizon and the Silk Road Fund has been launched, offering strong support for progress in the Belt and Road initiative.

We have successfully hosted the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. In these two major international events, we have advocated common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security in Asia, called for efforts to shape the future through Asia-Pacific partnership, launched the process of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific and defined its roadmap, and adopted the APEC Blueprint on Connectivity. All these efforts have enabled China to make indelible contribution to the historical process of maintaining peace and security and advancing cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

We have been actively engaged in efforts to resolve a number of major hotspot issues, including the Iranian nuclear issue, the Korean Peninsula, Ukraine, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the internal conflict in South Sudan, the fight against terrorism and the Ebola epidemic. Upholding an objective and fair position, we have called on the parties concerned to seek negotiated peaceful solutions and played our role as a responsible major country in maintaining regional and international peace and stability.

Not long ago, the CPC Central Committee held the second Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs since the founding of New China, and laid out a comprehensive plan for China's diplomacy under the new conditions. The conference was convened when China has entered a crucial stage of achieving the great renewal of the Chinese nation and when China's interactions with the international community have become increasingly close. It has been made clear that China should develop a distinctive diplomatic approach befitting its role as a major country; that it is important to promote a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation; and that China should seek other countries' understanding of and support for the Chinese dream and pursue the well-being of both the Chinese people and the people of all other countries. China is now standing at a new historical starting point in its diplomatic work and will write a new chapter in its relations with the rest of the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

The year 2015 will be a year of landmark significance for both the world and China. The international community will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-fascist War and jointly adopt a post-2015 development agenda. The Chinese people will mark solemnly the 70th anniversary of the victory of the war against Japanese aggression and continue to press ahead with efforts to comprehensively deepen reform and advance the rule of law. Peace and development will become the two focal issues of the world and represent two major tasks of China's diplomacy.

In the new year, we will, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary and the guidance of the Central Conference on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs, actively practice a distinctive diplomatic approach befitting China's role as a major country to provide strong support for realizing the Chinese dream of national renewal and make new contribution to peace and development of the world.

We will explore a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at its core. We will seek further progress in building a new model of major-country relationship with the United States, maintain the high quality of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, deepen China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual benefit through building a partnership for peace, growth, reform and progress of civilization, and strengthen strategic and practical cooperation with major emerging countries including India, Brazil and South Africa. We will continue to follow the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness in conducting neighborhood diplomacy and build a community of shared interests and common destiny with our neighbors.

We will uphold justice and pursue shared interests. Justice and interests should be made compatible. We will give priority to justice and refrain from seeking interests at the expense of justice. We will work hard to strengthen unity and cooperation with other developing countries, uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and promote the common development of China and other developing countries.

We will continue to advance the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road through consultation, joint development and sharing. We will kick-start the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, make good use of the Silk Road Fund, enhance infrastructural connectivity, accelerate FTA negotiations and work to ensure that various bilateral and regional cooperation arrangements in the Asia-Pacific are inclusive and mutually reinforcing.

We will firmly uphold world peace and development. We will work with the international community to safeguard international justice and post-WWII order and oppose words and deeds that intend to turn back the wheel of history. We will work for a post-2015 development agenda that serves the interests of all countries, especially developing countries to make new contribution to the development and progress of mankind.

Excellencies, Representatives and the Spouses,

The track record of the past year has been splendid, and even greater progress is to be expected for the coming year. We look forward to further advances in the friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world. I wish to once again express my heartfelt appreciation to Your Excellencies for your abiding commitment and tremendous efforts to promote friendship and cooperation between your countries and China. The Chinese Foreign Ministry will continue to provide assistance to make your life and work in China more comfortable and exert unremitting efforts to achieve harmony and common development between China and the rest of the world.

Now, please join me in a toast:

To the fulfillment of the great dream of national renewal by the Chinese people;

To the beautiful dreams of people of all countries in the world; and

To the health of all the guests present.

Cheers!