Dear Mr. Khalid Malik,
Distinguished Guests,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening! Christmas and New Year are coming, and I am delighted to host this party and renew our friendship with you, representatives from the offices of the United Nations and other international organizations in China, to greet the New Year. I wish to express, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in my own name, a very warm welcome and best wishes to you.

The world today is undergoing profound changes. It is moving toward multipolarity, and globalization is gathering momentum. Countries are becoming increasingly interconnected and their interests intertwined. The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation remains an irresistible trend of the times.

On the other hand, the world is not trouble free. Local conflicts and hotspot issues keep flaring up. Global economic imbalance is growing and the North-South gap is widening. Climate change, pressure on energy and resources and other issues pose challenges to world peace and development. To rise up to these challenges, uphold peace and promote development: this is an urgent task facing the international community.

The United Nations, being the most universal, representative and authoritative international organization, is the most important platform for practicing multilateralism and the core mechanism for responding to threats and challenges, and plays an irreplaceable role in international affairs. The world needs a strong United Nations.

Over the past year, the UN has been dedicated to advancing security, development and human rights, the three pillar areas.

In the security field, the UN has made new headway in peace-keeping, peace-building and preventive diplomacy. It has been actively involved in addressing Darfur and other hotspot issues.

In the field of development, the UN has mobilized global effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In particular, it has held a number of important meetings on climate change, including the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This will ensure that international cooperation on climate change will be advanced in the right direction.

In the area of human rights, the institution-building of the Human Rights Council was completed and international human rights dialogue and cooperation have been enhanced.

Following the trend of the times, the UN has intensified efforts to reform itself, increase efficiency, and ensure policy coordination and consistency. China applauds the achievements it has made.

You are envoys of friendship charged with the responsibility of strengthening the UN's cooperation with China. You have been directly involved in China's reform and opening-up and contributed your share to China's economic and social progress. You have given us both valuable policy advice and tremendous support and assistance and I wish to say a big thank you for your commitment to China.

As an important member state of the UN, China will continue to uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and UN's authority and support the UN in playing an important role in international affairs.

The UN should continue to fulfill its mission of maintaining world peace and promoting development. It should work to make balanced progress in globalization that will bring prosperity to all and attain the MDGs. In particular, it should continue to play a leadership role in tackling climate change by promoting international cooperation within the framework of the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol and in accordance with the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities". The UN should also promote progress in human rights and other social fields and make unremitting efforts to meet non-traditional challenges.

Dear friends,

This year is an important year for China. The Communist Party of China held its 17th National Congress, which took stock of past progress of China's development and charted its future course. It reaffirmed the Scientific Outlook on Development as the guiding principle for the building of a well-off society in all respects. Following the decisions of the Party Congress, China will work to ensure sound and fast economic growth, and accelerate the development of social programs to improve people's well-being and uphold their rights and interests. It will promote a conservation culture to achieve sustainable economic and social development. China will stay firm on the path of peaceful development and pursue a win-win opening-up strategy. It will hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, follow an independent foreign policy of peace and strive to build a harmonious world of durable peace and common prosperity. I am confident that with dedicated efforts, we will make continued progress in building socialism with distinctive Chinese features.

Next year will be a great year for both the UN and China. The UN will hold a series of important meetings, including conferences on MDGs and development financing. We in China will fully implement the decisions of the 17th Party Congress and strive to achieve our development goals. We will host the Beijing Olympic Games, a great event for the whole world. We look forward to working closely with you to promote the common development of both China and the world.

Let me conclude my remarks with a Chinese couplet: "Auspiciousness has come with the Year of the Pig and the Year of the Mouse heralds greater harmony for the world." I now wish to propose a toast:

To world peace and development,

To cooperation between China and the United Nations, and

To your health.

Cheers and have a great evening!