Excellencies the Most Honourable Governor General and Lady Cooke,

　　The Honourable Speaker of the Parliament and the Honourable President of the Senate,

　　The Honourable Ministers,

　　His Worship the Mayor of Kingston,

　　Colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps,

　　Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority,

　　Leaders of the Chinese Community,

　　Ladies and Gentlemen,

　　It is really my great pleasure to have so many friends at the King’s House tonight for a wonderful Chinese Puppet Show.

　　May I have the further pleasure to tell you that the artists who will perform for us come from the City of Yangzhou, a lovely city in East China, which is famous for its beautiful scenery and traditional culture including the puppet art. I am also glad to tell you that Yangzhou is also the home city of my wife and myself.

　　Usually I don’t have a long memory. But certain things of my childhood still remain fresh in my mind. I remember how excited I was when I was a little boy, sitting in the darkness of the theater, wondering what kind of magic had moved those monkeys, lions, dragons and sometimes little boys and girls taller than me jumping and trotting on the stage.

　　I prefer to regard this unique art form as a magic, although I do hold a deep respect to these artists.

　　My dear friends, please don’t be surprised when I tell you that the puppet performance has a history of over 2,000 years in China. In the earliest performances, puppets were manipulated by flowing water. Fairy tales, legends and history depictions were the most common themes. Of course, stories of everyday life were usually better received. Down through the 20 centuries, generations of artists had dedicated their creativeness and imagination to the bringing of the modeling, mechanism and stage art of Chinese Puppet to its climax. Today, Chinese Puppet is one of our well-preserved cultural heritages. Like Peking Opera and traditional Chinese music and dance, Chinese Puppet has been amusing and educating Chinese people from generation to generation. Chinese puppet is both classic and alive. People, young and old, like it for its colorful modeling, humorous story and performing, and its original easy-going style.

　　Yangzhou Puppet Theater is one of the most famous puppet troupes in China. Their works have won many awards. This is the first Chinese Puppet troupe to visit Jamaica. They will tour the island in the following week and give 5 performances. Tonight is their debut in the island. For this special occasion, they have selected 15 programs. Some of them are traditional stories widely known in China, while others are the latest creation to show their artistic skills. I believe this show will be a success and you will enjoy the evening.

　　Both China and Jamaica have created their distinctive cultures. The listing of Jamaica’s Maroons and China’s Kunqu Opera and Guqin music to the UNESCO “Masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humannity” proves that the two countries have won international recognition for their rich and colouful cultural landscape. It is my sincere hope that China and Jamaica will continue with more cultural exchange programs like this one, and bring the two peoples closer.

　　Finally, I wish to extend my special thanks to the Most Honourable Governor General and Lady Cooke for their giving patronage to this show.

　　And also my heart-felt thanks to the Ministry of Culture, JCDC and the Chinese community for hosting the Yangzhou Puppet Theater.

　　Thank you.