Address at the 70th National Day Reception of the People's Republic of China
by H.E. Mr TIAN QI
Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica and Permanent Representative to
the International Seabed Authority
(September 30, 2019. Kingston, Jamaica)
Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade,
The Hon. Ministers,
Dr. Peter Phillips, Leader of Opposition,
Senator the Hon. Thomas Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate,
Senators and Members of the House of Representatives,
DCP Clifford Blake, Commissioner of Police,
Dear colleagues of the International Seabed Authority,
Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,
My Fellow Chinese,
Friends from the media,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sistrain and Bredren, Wah gwaan? Big up!
Thank you all for joining me in celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).
Regarding the tremendous progress China has made over the past 70 years, Mr. Lawrence Henry Summers, former World Bank chief economist, noted that "China has made history. It has raised the average living standard 100-fold in the span of a lifetime, and it now exerts an important influence on the global economy and is of importance to people around the world".
China's economy has experienced previously unseen rates of acceleration over the past seven decades. China's GDP hit $13.14 trillion in 2018. From 1949 to 2018, China's per capita gross national income increased by 135 times, from roughly $70 to $9,470. At the early stage of the PRC, most of the industrial goods depended on import. Now, China is the world's largest industrial country with the most complete industrial system, the largest trader in goods, and the top producer of more than 200 products.
China's contribution to the global economic growth has surpassed 30 per cent in recent years. Its economic growth rate in 2018 ranked first among the world's five biggest economies, and it continues to be the largest contributor to global economic growth. Despite the complex external economic environment, China's GDP still maintained a medium-high rate of growth in the first half of this year, up 6.3 per cent year on year, a good performance amid the global slowdown of economic growth.
Socialism with Chinese characteristics has been of sound development. What China has achieved in the past seven decades has justified the development path it has chosen: socialism with Chinese characteristics. It has blazed a new trail and option for other developing countries to achieve modernization while preserving their independence. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, China will continue to put people first. The efforts made by a people's government boils down to the purpose of serving our people's well-being and improving their lives.
China's socialist democracy is the democracy that most extensively safeguards the interests of the people. The more collective wisdom of society we pool, the better we concentrate all our resources to accomplish large projects efficiently. Poverty alleviation is one successful example of this.
Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China has lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty. President Xi Jinping has noted: "I have spent more energy on poverty alleviation than on anything else", "No one should be left alone on the road toward poverty alleviation and a moderate prosperous society". I am therefore proud to share with you that China is on track to eliminate all absolute poverty by the end of 2020. It will be a historic achievement for the Chinese nation and the human society.
As a major player in international affairs, China, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, has been closely integrated with the world, playing a proactive part in international affairs, and making a greater contribution to world peace and development. Moreover, China has lived up to its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a major world economy. As the largest developing country and the second-largest contributor to the UN regular budget, China will continue to steadfastly uphold multilateralism, economic globalization and support the UN's positive work in international affairs.
China is also sharing development opportunities with countries through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as well as expanding imports and foreign direct investment. The BRI provides a new platform for cooperation that promotes a more balanced benefit distribution worldwide and the achievement of the 2030 sustainable development goals. History will continue to prove that China's development is beneficial for the world as China is a significant contributor to global development.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year also marks the 47th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Jamaica. Over the past 47 years, China-Jamaica relations have continued to grow and flourish, with fruitful exchange and cooperation in various fields and an ever-growing friendship between our two peoples. China attaches great importance to the development of China-Jamaica relations and stands ready to expand our mutually beneficial cooperation and promote our relations to a higher level.
The Memorandum of Understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative signed on April 11, 2019, between the governments of China and Jamaica, is of great significance and represents a further strengthening of the relationship between our two countries. China looks forward to jointly pushing forward the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road with Jamaica and Jamaica's leading role in the Caribbean in enhancing connectivity by promoting policy synergy, infrastructure development, unimpeded trade, financial cooperation and people-to-people bond, for the common well-being of our peoples.
I am convinced that substantial investments from China will come to Jamaica, bringing benefits in terms of financing, knowledge and technology transfer, employment and access to China's vast market and extensive distribution network. I am also convinced that Jamaica's participation in the Second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in November as a Guest Country of Honour will not only boost Jamaican exports to China and the world at large, but also contribute to the achievement of Jamaica's national development goals of becoming "the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business".
I am happy to reiterate that China and Jamaica have been maintaining close cooperation in international affairs. Both of us have always attached great importance to addressing climate change to achieve green high-quality economic development and ecological progress. China will continue, as always, to firmly implement the Paris Agreement, fully honour its commitments, promote an equitable, rational, and win-win global climate governance mechanism, and work with Jamaica and other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind. China also looks forward to closer cooperation and coordination with Jamaica in international and regional affairs to safeguard and promote the common interests of the developing countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year marks the silver jubilee of the International Seabed Authority. In July, with the strong support of the host country Jamaica and other members, the Authority successfully celebrated its 25th Anniversary. China warmly congratulates the ISA on its great achievements and is ready to work with all parties, in keeping with the spirit and principle of joint contribution for shared benefits. China commits to the promotion of a scientifically sound balance between deep-sea mineral exploitation and deep-sea environmental protection for the common heritage of mankind. As a developing country, China will continue to participate deeply in international seabed affairs by contributing its strength and wisdom, and actively support other developing countries including Jamaica to better participate in the ISA affairs.
My friends,
Today we celebrate our past while embracing what the future holds. I believe that with the concerted efforts of all parties, China-Jamaica relations will continue to achieve greater progress and contribute even more to the mutual development and prosperity of our two countries and the world by extension.
To conclude, my fervent wish is for the earlier realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation, the prosperity of Jamaica, stronger China-Jamaica friendship, and good health of every one of you.
Walk good, my friends. We love you cyaan done!
Thank you!