Your Excellencies Sir Arthur Foulkes, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Lady Foulkes,
Honourable Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mrs.Symonette,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening! Welcome to the reception held by my Embassy in celebration of the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
In 2011, facing complicated and volatile international situation as well as new problems emerging from its economic operation, China firmly implements proactive fiscal policy and stable money policy. Its strengthening and improving of macro-control in the first half of the year resulted in fairly good economic performance. The Chinese economy has been moving in the expected direction.
According to preliminary estimates, China's total GDP reached 20.44 trillion RMB yuan in the first half of the year, increasing by 9.6% compared with the same period of last year.
The steady agricultural performance in general led to a good harvest of the summer crops, which saw the total summer grain yield increasing by 3.12 million tons, up by 2.5%.
Industry developed smoothly and returns of enterprises kept growing. From January through May, enterprises at national scale gained a profit of 1.9 trillion RMB yuan, an increase of 27.9% over the same period of last year.
Total foreign trade volume from January through August was 2.35 trillion US dollars, an increase of 25.4%, of which export volume was 1.22 trillion, up by 23.6%, while import volume was 1.13 trillion, up by 27.4%.
Generally-speaking, China's import keeps increasing and the trade surplus China runs is narrowing year by year, China's economic achievements have attracted world-wide attention. Over the more than 30 years since its reform and opening-up, China has realized a non-crisis economic growth at an annual rate of close to 10%.
Since joining the WTO in 2002, China's foreign trade has maintained a yearly growth rate of more than 20% for many years in succession. Now China has become the first biggest export country and second biggest import country.
From January trough July of 2011, China's total retail consumption volume climbed up to 10.02 trillion RMB yuan, witnessing an increase of 16.8% over the same period of last year. Its measures of stimulating domestic demand through economic transformation have gained preliminary results.
To sum up, through scores of years' reform and exploration, the Chinese government and people have found a development road suitable to their national situation.
This year marks the first year of the 12th Five-Year Plan of National Economy and Social Development of China (2011-2015).
The objectives on livelihood protection was further emphasized in the Plan. For issues concerning the protection and improvement of livelihood and solutions to the gap between the rich and the poor, social injustice and other livelihood-related problems such as housing, medicare, social security, education, agriculture, farmer and rural area, guiding principles were not only set up but guaranteed by policies as well, which represented the unanimous determination and aspiration of the Chinese government and the Chinese people.
The protection and improvement of the livelihood of the people becomes the long-term main task of the government. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of the total revenue of the Central government (around 10 trillion RMB yuan) will be used in this area.
Ladies and gentlemen,
2011 also witnesses the sound development of the relations between China and The Bahamas. The mutual political trust has been strengthened and the bilateral trade continues to be growing. The cooperation in investment, education and tourism turns out to be new highlights in our bilateral ties.
Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Mr. Wang Lequan and Vice Premier of the State Council of China Mr. Wang Qishan visited The Bahamas successively, giving an impetus to the extensive exchange and practical cooperation in various areas between China and The Bahamas.
Learning The Bahamas was hit by Hurricane Irene, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the first time sent a telegram to the Right Honourable Prime Minister Ingraham to express his sympathies. Meanwhile, the Chinese side provided 300 thousand US dollars in cash to assist the Bahamians in their rescue work in the wake of the hurricane.
Moreover, during Vice Premier Wang's visit to The Bahamas, China and The Bahamas signed an agreement on economic and technical cooperation, under which the Chinese government provided a grant of 30 million RMB yuan to the Bahaminan government for projects to be agreed upon by both sides.
The Bahamas pursues a foreign policy of peaceful cooperation and respect for the sovereignty of all countries, while China has all along adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace. China holds high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, and develops friendly cooperative relations with other countries on the basis of the widely-accepted Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We can see that China and The Bahamas have a lot of similarities in our foreign policies.
China has firmly stayed on the road of peaceful development. This is not only the long-term principle China has insisted on, but also the solemn commitment of the government and people of China to the international community.
Recently, Chinese president Hu Jintao emphasized the following points: China advocates a new security concept featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and coordination. It pursues a national defence policy that is defensive in nature. It will not engage itself in arms race, nor will it pose military threat to any other country. China insists on peaceful settlement of international disputes and regional hot-spot issues, and opposes wanton use or threat of use of force. China will never seek hegemony, nor will it practice expansionism.
Three weeks ago, the Chinese government issued its white paper on China's peaceful development, once again demonstrating its solemn commitment to the people of the whole world.
Nowadays, the interdependence and fusion of interests among counties have been increasing. The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation represents the popular desire and general trend of the times.
Being confronted with all kinds of risks and challenges, all countries, including China and The Bahamas, should work together for common development, and make sustained efforts to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.
To conclude, let's raise our glasses for a toast:
To the 62nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China,
To the good health of His Excellency Sir Arthur Foulkes, and
To the well-being of all present today.
Cheers!