The St. Regis Amman, 26 September 2023

Your Excellency Mme. Kholoud Saqqaf, Minister of Investment & guest of honour of Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,

Your Excellencies Ministers and Secretaries-General,

Your Excellencies members of the Senate and House of Representatives,

Dear Generals,

Your Excellencies Ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

My fellow compatriots,   

Good evening and As-Salamu Alaikum!

Thank you for attending today's reception to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.We are also approaching Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) Birthday and the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, which makes it a triple blessing. Mid-Autumn Festival is a day of full moon, signifying reunion. What is particularly delightful, is that this is the first offline National Day reception of the Chinese Embassy since the pandemic.

On 1 October 1949, the Chinese people, led by the Communist Party of China, founded the People's Republic, achieving national independence and people’s liberation.

Recalling the past, over the extraordinary 74 years, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups have been united as one and worked hard to create two miracles: rapid economic development and long-term social stability. China has moved from poverty and weakness to prosperity and strength, built a moderately prosperous society in all aspects.

China’s total economic output has grown by more than 175 times, making it the world's second-largest economy, with the largest manufacturing capacity, the largest trade volume in goods, and the largest foreign exchange reserve. More than 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty.

Setting our eyes on today, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in October last year proposed to build a modern and strong socialist country by the middle of this century, and to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through a Chinese path to modernization.

This year is the first year to fully implement decisions of the 20th Party Congress. The Chinese people have tackled difficulties and forged ahead with courage and determination on the new journey.

China's economy has rebounded and improved, with remarkable progress in high-quality development. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5.5 per cent in the first half of the year, which led the world's major economies, and contributed the most to the world's economic growth. China's self-developed and self-built large passenger aircraft made its maiden commercial flight. China’s high-speed rail, 5G and artificial intelligence technologies are leading the world, and Chinese electric vehicles are sold worldwide.

Despite the complex and severe external environment and pressure on domestic development, the fundamentals sustaining China's long-term growth have not changed, and its resilience, potential and vitality has not changed. The Chinese economy will continue to recover and improve, bringing more opportunities to the rest of the world.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of China's reform and opening up and the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. China remains committed to opening up to the outside world at a higher level, which goes wider in scope, broader in sectors, and greater in depth. The Government has recently introduced policies and initiatives to further optimize the environment for foreign investment.

The Belt and Road initiative has given birth to more than 3,000 projects, leveraging investment of nearly one trillion US dollars. Supporting institutions have been established, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the BRICS New Development Bank and the Silk Road Fund. The World Bank estimates that by 2030, the Belt and Road Initiative will help lift nearly 40 million people out of poverty.

Next month, the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing. New initiatives will be launched to promote the achievement of sustainable development goals globally.

Dear friends,

The world is fast changing with uncertainties and turmoils. How does humanity effectively address our common challenges? China's answer is building a community of shared future. Ten years ago, President Xi Jinping pronounced the idea and then put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. Earlier today, the Chinese Government published a white paper A Global Community of Shared Future: China's Proposals and Actions, which will be available as you leave. We call on all countries to proceed from the common future of humankind, strengthen unity and cooperation, reject division and confrontation, and work together to build a world of lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity, and one that is open and inclusive, clean and beautiful.

Late last year, the first China-Arab Summit was held, which is a historic milestone in China-Arab relations. The Summit charted the direction and path for building a China-Arab community of shared future. Among its deliverables are eight common actions.

For the past year, China continues to play a constructive role in the Middle East, firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people, mediated the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and promoted political solution to regional issues including Syria and Yemen. China commends Jordan’s positive efforts for peace and stability in the region and her generous help to refugees. We support the Peace Day Efforts initiative put forward by Jordan and other parties, and urge the international community to work harder for the Palestinian-Israeli peace process with a stronger sense of urgency.

China will always be a builder of peace in the Middle East and a good partner for development.

Dear friends,

Under the strategic leadership of His Excellency President Xi Jinping and His Majesty King Abdullah II, China and Jordan continue to strengthen our friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. We respect each other, firmly support each other on issues related to each other’s core interests, and have broad consensus on international and regional issues. We enjoy robust and thriving economic, trade and investment cooperation, and have close and in-depth cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Modernization is the common keyword of China and Jordan. The Chinese path to modernization is defined by a huge population, common prosperity for all, concerted material and cultural-ethical advancement, harmony between humanity and nature, and peaceful development.

China firmly supports Jordan’s efforts in exploring her own path to modernization in line with national conditions and cultural traditions, and wishes to be a close partner on the journey to modernization.

I often tell my Jordanian friends that with each passing day in Jordan, I feel that the roots of Sino-Jordanian friendship are getting deeper, and the fruits of cooperation are becoming more abundant. In the first 7 months of this year, bilateral trade amounted to about $3.5 billion, and Jordanian export to China increased by nearly 25 per cent. By mid-september, the Embassy has issued visas for nearly 7,500 Jordanian friends going to China, and helped nearly 400 Jordanians to undertake training in China in areas such as health, agriculture and 5G technology.

Beyond these figures, I am very impressed by many unforgettable scenes: Chinese-made electric cars running on the streets of Jordan; local young men from Karak working for a better life on the production lines of a Chinese ceramics factory; Chinese animation exhibition drawing big crowds of young people from universities and in communities; and Jordanian students giving me a warm welcome to their schools.

I am very glad to introduce to you some special guests at today’s reception, 10 young friends from Mabarrat Um al Hussein. Welcome and enjoy the evening!

I would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to friends from all quarters who care for and support China-Jordan relations, including friendship organizations such as the Jordan-China Friendship Association and the Jordan-China Cultural Cooperation Committee.

As the Hangzhou Asian Games are in full swing, we congratulate Team Jordan for its first medal won today and wish Jordanian athletes great success.

亲爱的同胞们，我谨向你们致以诚挚的节日问候。你们在疫情期间守望相助、共克时艰，展现了中国人的民族精神，也对使馆工作给予有力支持。我对此深表谢意。希望你们继续发挥桥梁纽带作用，支持祖国发展，促进中约两国友好。

I would also like to thank my Chinese and Jordanian colleagues at the Embassy for their hard work, and welcome the newly arrived deputy chief of mission, Minister Counsellor Gong Anmin.

Finally, please join me in wishing

Continued prosperity for the People’s Republic of China,

Ever lasting friendship between China and Jordan,

And well-being, happiness and success for all guests.

Thank you and Shukran.