The Most Hon. Sir Howard Cooke, Governor General of Jamaica,

　　The Hon. Donald Buchanan, Minister of Water & Housing,

　　The Most Hon. Edward Seaga, Leader of the Opposition,

　　The Hon. Members of Parliament,

　　Colleagues of Diplomatic Corpse,

　　Colleagues of International Seabed Authority,

　　Friends from the Chinese Community,

　　Distinguished Guests,

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　Good evening, everyone!

　　Let me extend a warm welcome to all of you to join us tonight in celebrating the 54th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

　　Over the past 54 years, in the efforts to build a strong and prosperous country, China has shown to the world great changes with eye-catching achievements in every field.

　　Particularly since 1979 when reform and opening–up policy was adopted, China has maintained an average annual economic growth rate of over 9 percent, much higher than the world’s average. The living standard of the Chinese people has been raised by a big margin with more than 200 million people having been lifted out of poverty. (Yet we still have 28 million people living under the poverty line.) Last year, China’s GDP reached 1.2 trillion US dollars. And now China has become the 6th largest economy in the world in terms of the total economic scale.

　　This year, in spite of the adverse impact by SARS epidemic, China was able to achieve a robust economic growth rate of 8.2 percent in the first half of the year with import increasing by 44.5 percent and export 34 percent compared with the corresponding period of last year. We are confident that the country will attain this year’s target of 7 percent of growth rate.

　　The smooth implementation of the formula of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong and Macao in recent years has further enhanced the confidence of the Chinese people both at home and abroad in the motherland’s complete reunification. China is grateful to the majority of countries in the world including Jamaica for their continued support of the one-China policy.

　　We pursue an independent foreign policy of peace. China has been taking an active part in addressing, among other things, the Iraqi and Korean nuclear issues. In today’s world of globalization where issues of counter terrorism, environmental protection, drug trafficking and illegal immigration call for concerted efforts of the international community, China will continue to play a constructive role in the building of a clean, peaceful and prosperous world for all mankind.

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　Chinaand Jamaica are two great nations. The friendship between the two peoples dates back to 1854 when the first Chinese crossed the vast ocean to this beautiful “land of forest and water” to form one people with many others. The past 31 years following the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Jamaica have seen our two countries enjoying more fruitful and extensive cooperation in many areas. Now Jamaica has become one of the most important cooperative partners of China in the Caribbean Region.

　　The year 2003 has witnessed some important exchanges between the two countries. At the beginning of the year China’s Vice Premier Mme. Wu Yi visited Jamaica. In early September, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology Dr. Dixon led a Jamaican Government Delegation to China to participate in the activities of the Caribbean Day, which was specially opened as part of the International Fair for Investment and Trade in China’s island City of Xiamen. And for the first time, the Jamaican media friends from two major newspapers, the Gleaner and the Observer, also visited China, sending home the news report written with their first-hand experiences.

　　And most Recently, H.E. Mr. Li Zhaoxing, Foreign Minister of China has just concluded a successful visit to Jamaica. He had in-depth and wide-ranging talks with his counterpart the Hon. K.D. Knight. Minister Li also had the honor to meet with the Governor General and the Prime Minister of Jamaica. During their talks and meetings, the two sides found that their views on bilateral and multilateral issues were so identical.

　　Dear friends,

　　We have every reason to believe that our efforts to build a multi-faceted partnership between China and Jamaica will be rewarded by a stronger and more fruitful relationship in the years ahead.

　　Finally, I’d like to conclude by expressing my most sincere thanks to the Most Honorable Sir Howard Cooke, the Governor General of Jamaica for his presence, which has indeed graced this important occasion.

　　Now, ladies and gentlemen,

　　Please join me in a toast

　　to the continuous development of China,

　　to the prosperity of Jamaica,

　　to the ever-lasting friendship between China and Jamaica, and

　　to the good health of everyone present here tonight.

　　Cheers! Gan Bei!