Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, let me, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, express heart-felt thanks to the Jamaica-China Friendship Association for hosting this dinner tonight to celebrate 54th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

We highly appreciate the friendly sentiments cherished by the Association and its members towards China and the Chinese people for all these years. What you have been doing has really warmed our hearts.

We also appreciate your friendly gesture to co-sponsor the grand dinner party to welcome Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in his first official visit to Jamaica just recently.

Dear friends,

Looking back on the course China has traversed over the past 54 years, we are really proud of the progress made by our motherland. It has developed from a semi-colonial, semi-feudal, poor and backward nation into a prosperous and independent socialist country.

The modernization drive characterized by country's reform and opening-up during the past 24 years in particular has made China the 6th largest economy in the world in terms of the total economic strength. China's GDP has surpassed the 1-trillion US dollars mark.

This year, our economy continues to maintain a sound momentum of growth-as a matter of fact, we achieved 8.2 percent of growth rate in the first 6 months of the year in spite of flooding and SARS which attacked China seriously.

There is no need for me to speak at length about all these eye-catching accomplishments in China as many of you have visited my country quite often. But still, I'd like to emphasize that without the peaceful international environment, and without valuable time-honored support by friends such as those from your Association, it would be impossible for China for have accomplished such epoch-making achievements.

Dear friends,

Jamaica and China have enjoyed amicable relations over the past 31 years. We see frequent exchange of high-level visits. Following Mme. Wu Yi's visit, we have Foreign Minister Li's recent visit to Jamaica. I am glad to tell you that during talks between our leaders, two sides reached a consensus on a broad range of issues both bilaterally and multilaterally. I have every reason to believe that the friendly relations and cooperation will grow from strength to strength.

Now, ladies and gentlemen,

My wife and I would like to invite you to join us in a toast

to the continuous development of China,

to prosperity of Jamaica,

to the friendship between Chinese people and Jamaican people,

to the health of everyone present tonight.

Cheers! Gan Bei!