Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas, I would like to express my sincere welcome and heartfelt thanks to the guests and friends present.

Shandong Province is rich in natural resources, tourism and culture. I have climbed its Mount Tai, which ranks the first of the Five Mountains of China and is also listed as UNESCO’s World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. Seeing with my own eyes, I have been impressed by Shandong's martial arts, opera and acrobatic performance. I have also visited the hometown of Confucius who you may know as the founder of Confucianism that has had a profound impact on Chinese civilization.

My Friends. Tourism is a bridge to enhance friendship and culture a link to connect the world. President Xi Jinping has proposed that intercultural exchange and mutual learning are important impetuses for the progress of human civilization and world peace and development. The 78th United Nations General Assembly recently adopted by consensus China's resolution to establishment 10 June as the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations, to contribute Chinese wisdom to facilitate tolerance, coexistence, exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, so as to make the garden of world civilizations flourish.

It has been a month since I arrived in The Bahamas to assume office as the 10th Chinese Ambassador here. Having travelled to every corner of Nassau, I look forward to visiting the Family Islands in the future. I am deeply impressed by The Bahamas being a jewel of the Caribbean and a world-renowned tourist destination. I hope that more Chinese people will come to The Bahamas to enjoy the beautiful natural landscape and diverse culture. My colleagues and I are willing to work with friends from all walks of life at home and abroad to deepen exchanges and cooperation in the field of culture and tourism between China and The Bahamas, to promote friendly exchanges between the two peoples, and to upgrade relations between the two countries.

Thank you!