The Ambassador Raymond Wolfe, Under Secretary of Ministey of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,

Your Excellency Satya Nandan, Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority,

Mr. Wang Fei, Deputy Administrator of the State Oceanic Administration of China and Head of the Chinese Oceanic Delegation,

Members of the Delegation,

Captain Lu Huisheng of the Vessel Dayang Yihao,

Scientists and Crew on board the Vessel,

Colleagues of the Diplomatic Corps,

Friends,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome to this reception co-hosted by Mr. Wang Fei and me in honour of the visiting Chinese ocean research vessel Dayang Yihao and the Chinese Oceanic Delegation. First of all, please allow me to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Jamaica and all the friends present tonight, our warmest welcome and most sincere greetings, to the scientists and crew on board Dayang Yihao as well as the visiting Oceanic Delegation.

The Vessel Dayang Yihao set sail last April from China's Port of Qingdao. Now 20,000 nautical miles away from home, she has entered the Atlantic after crossing the vast Pacific Ocean. I hope all the scientists and crew on board her enjoy the journey as much as you will enjoy your visit to this beautiful island. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the kind invitation of the Hon. K.D. Knight and H. E. Satya Nandan to Dayang Yihao and the Chinese Oceanic Delegation so that they have the privilege to visit the famous Port of Kingston, a pearl of the serene and romantic Caribbean Sea.

This is a journey of exploration. During her round-the-world oceanic research voyage, she will fulfill the long-held dream to explore and develop the seabed mineral deposits and deep-sea biological resources.

The international seabed is the heritage of the whole mankind. China takes it an unshirkable international obligation to carry out the survey of ocean resources and to make contributions to the peaceful development and utilization of ocean resources for mankind.

Now, having successfully accomplished the first half of the mission, Dayang Yihao will be bound for the second half of it, beginning with the visits to Jamaica and the International Seabed Authority. We believe that the research findings of Dayang Yihao will provide precious firsthand materials for the scientific research in geoscience, life science and marine science. Taking this as the basis, the cooperation between the Chinese Government and foreign countries as well as the International Seabed Authority will be further strengthened, and the marine resources will be utilized more wisely for the well-being of mankind.

This is a journey of friendship. Full of friendly feelings the Chinese people hold towards peoples from other countries in the world, Dayang Yihao is pursuing nothing but peace and development.

Six hundred years ago, that is, 1405, Zheng He, the famous Chinese navigator in history, led a huge fleet composed of 63 ships and some 27,800 sailors for 7 expeditions. He led his fleet to more than 30 countries in South Asia and Africa, making significant contributions to the cause of navigation of the world. Unlike other pioneers of the Great Discoveries of Geography, Zheng He and his fleet brought along friendship and technology to other countries. Believing that all peoples of the world had the right to "share the fortune of peace", Zheng He carried out trade on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The voyage of Zheng He was a mission of spreading Chinese culture and civilization, a mission of peace and friendship.

Zheng He's voyage is all history now, but his spirit remains forever. Peace is held as the supreme principle of the marine development of China. By advocating the peaceful utilization and development of the ocean floor, the mission of Dayang Yihao will further promote the friendly relations between China and the rest of the world and expand international cooperation, thus making new contribution to the lasting peace and development of the world.

This is a journey to a new area of cooperation for China and Jamaica.

For most of the scientists and crew on board Dayang Yihao, this is their first visit to Jamaica. In just a few days, this wonderful land of wood and water will no longer be a far away country, but a piece of beautiful memory which will be kept afresh for a very long time.

This morning, the Chinese Oceanic Delegation and Chinese scientists had a very good meeting with representatives from the National Council on Oceans and Coastal Zone Management. Visits to the Caribbean Maritime Institute and Port Royal Campus of the UWI Centre for Marine Sciences proved to be both informative and educational.

With these new contacts being made, the visit of Dayang Yihao and the Chinese Oceanic Delegation has greatly enriched the sound cooperative relationship between China and Jamaica. It is my sincere hope that in the near future, marine and oceanic research will be the latest field in which the two countries engage themselves in exchanges and cooperation programmes.

Tomorrow morning the Chinese Oceanic Delegation and scientists will visit the International Seabed Authority and meet with Secretary General Mr. Satya Nandan. I am sure that China's cooperative relationship with the Authority will be further strengthened.

Last but not least, please allow me to express my heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Transport and Works, to the International Seabed Authority, the Port Authority, the Maritime Authority and all our friends present tonight. Without the concerted efforts of all of you, the visit won't be a successful one. I would also like to extend my best wishes to Dayang Yihao for carrying out successfully the rest of its mission.

Now, I'd like to propose a toast,

to the successful visit of Dayang Yihao,

to the course of marine development,

to the friendship between China and Jamaica

to the friendly cooperation between China and the International Seabed Authority,

to the health of all our friends,

Cheers!