Your Excellency Mr. Mulatu Teshome, Former President, 
Your Excellency Mr. Abadula Gemeda, Former Speaker of the House of People’s Representatives,

Your Excellency Mr. Ahmed Shide, Finance Minister,

Your Excellency Ms. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson for the AU Commission,

Your Excellency Prof. Mohammed Belhocine, African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation,

Your Excellency Mr. Tordeta Ratebaye, Acting Chief of Cabinet of Chairperson, African Union Commission,

Your Excellency Ms. Sweta Saxena, Chief of Staff of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa,

Members of the diplomatic corps,

Distinguished guests, 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Friends,

Good evening! Welcome!

First of all, the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia and the Chinese Mission to the AU would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your attending tonight’s reception and celebrating together with us the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China! This is the first time that we hold off-line National Day Reception after the adjustment of our anti-COVID policy.

The last 74 years have witnessed fruitful achievements out of our relentless efforts. Since the reform and opening-up of China four decades ago, especially since the 18th National Congress of the CPC under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, over 800 million Chinese people have been lifted out of poverty and over 400 million have joined the middle income group. In 2022, with its GDP of 121 trillion RMB yuan (17.5 trillion US dollars), China took the lead in major economies in terms of growth rate, contributing one-third to world growth. China has become the major trading partner with over 140 countries and regions including Ethiopia. For each day, China makes 320-million-US-dollar direct investment to the world. For each month, over 3,000 foreign enterprises settle down in China. The fundamentals of China’s economy characterized by long-term sustainability remain unchanged. The strong resilience, great vitality and enormous potential of China’s economy remain unchanged. The conditions in support of high quality development remain unchanged. So, the future of China’s economy and development is ever brighter!

China’s development will not be possible without the world, and will in turn bring more opportunities to the world. China, by implementing the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative with the whole world, stands ready to join hands with all countries to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.

First, Belt and Road cooperation builds global inter-connectivity network. This year makes the 10th anniversary of the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and Belt and Road Initiative both put forward by President Xi Jinping. Today, the Chinese Government issued a white paper titled “A Global Community of Shared Future: China’s Proposals and Actions”, listing China’s proposals and actions to mobilize the building of a global community of shared future. This coming October, the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing. China looks forward to discussing future development plans with all countries. As a key platform to build a community with a shared future for mankind, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation has become a popular international public good. Many nations including Ethiopia have realized their dreams of railways, big bridges and poverty alleviation. The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, as a way to the sea, allows the economic belt along the way to flourish. The railway has been an important axis for the “two axis and two riverbanks” projects to better implement the Outlook on Pcacc and Development in the Horn of Africa. The Addis Ababa riverside green development project draws from China’s experience of urban development. Friendship Square and Science Museum as parts of the project, have now become important and popular landmarks in the capital. China will launch the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development. Through Belt and Road cooperation, China will help Africa bring its integration and modernization into a fast track. All these vividly demonstrate the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and pursuing the greater good and shared interests for China’s relations with Africa.

Second, China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership deepens the bilateral cooperation in various fields. This year marks the 53rd anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Ethiopia. Our mutual political trust has been enhanced with frequent high-level exchanges. In this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory letters with President Sahle-Work and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. In May, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen visited China. In July, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and talked with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen when he made a stopover in Ethiopia. Both China and Ethiopia jointly made great efforts to promote the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa, in a bid to make contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region. People-to-people exchanges between our two countries have been on the increase. There are two Confucius Institutes in Ethiopia. A Chinese university has set up Amharic language major. Communication in language connects the two peoples. The other day, Zhejiang Wu Opera Troupe visited Ethiopia and staged a wonderful and successful performance, which is another vivid example of people-to-people exchanges and cultural communication. Both China and Ethiopia attach great importance to green development. The Green Legacy Initiative put forth by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed highly dovetails with the concept of Chinese modernization characterized by harmony between humankind and nature, as put forth by President Xi Jinping. Our two countries are committed to preserving the ecological environment so as to effectively cope with the challenges of climate change.

Third, the BRICS cooperation mechanism presents new vision for common development. During the 15th BRICS Summit that just concluded in South Africa, Ethiopia, with great support from China and other countries, successfully became another full member of the BRICS. China extends warm congratulations on Ethiopia’s joining the BRICS family. As a major country in Africa, Ethiopia plays an important role in China-Ethiopia relations, regional cooperation and global affairs. Ethiopia’s joining will bring new vitality and momentum to the BRICS cooperation, and help build the mechanism into a key platform for inclusive and sustainable development. During the 15th BRICS Summit, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minster Abiy conducted in-depth communication on important bilateral and global issues and reached broad consensus. Under the BRICS framework, China will deepen its cooperation with Ethiopia, together safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and inject more stability and positive energy into global development.

Friends,

The arc of history bends towards justice, peace and development. The trend of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is irreversible. An old Chinese saying goes, “a just cause finds great support,and a journey with many companions gets far”. Chinese path to modernization will bring opportunities to the world and inject momentum for global development. China stands ready to join hands with Ethiopia and the rest of the world to strive for a great cause and usher in a bright future with great efforts.

Lastly, I would like to convey my best wishes to our Ethiopian friends, for the Ethiopian New Year of 2016 as well as the coming Meskel Festival. Wish you a new year full of peace and joy! Thank you!