Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
Good evening! Namaste!
This is the first time we meet face to face for the past two years. I’d like to give my warmest welcome to all the old and new friends. This hall is called Garden View. In my eyes, I see flowers of friendship blooming in the garden. Thank you all for coming.
This October 1st marks the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. First of all, please give me the privilege to greet my compatriots here in Chinese “同胞们，国庆快乐！”
73 years ago, the Chinese people fully liberated ourselves from the weights of three vicious mountains, which were imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism. Over the past 73 years, we have been working so hard, dedicated so much, and the reward is so great. Our GDP is now the 2nd largest in the world and accounts for over 18% of the total, and the per capita income has surpassed $10,000. In addition to the expansion of quantity , we are paying more attention to quality. In the past decade, we adopted a new economic philosophy, pursuing innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development. Now, China ranks number 12 in terms of innovation, the output of high-tech industries accounts for 15.1% of our economy. Most important of all, nearly 100 million people have been out of poverty in the past ten years. This achievement means China is 10 years ahead of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Last July 1st, on the 100 anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, president Xi Jinping announced the absolute poverty had been entirely eliminated from our motherland.
Better China needs better world. Better world also needs a better China. In the past decade, China has been growing at an average of 6.6 percent annual rate, and contributed 30 percent of world total growth. China is now an important host country for international capital. In 2021, the FDI to China amounted to $173billion, the second largest in the world. At the same time, China’s outbound investment is also one of the largest. In 2021, Chinese companies made $128billion investment all around the world, quite some of that was in the Belt and Road countries.
The miracle of China’s development is not a mystery. We committed to the path of peaceful development. We champion cooperation over confrontation, to open up rather than closing our doors, and to focus on mutual benefits instead of zero-sum games. After 73 years, we have proved that the basis point of a nation’s development could be self-reliance, be her own wisdom and arduous work.
Next month, the Communist Party of China will convene the 20th National Congress. It will be an important meeting to be held at a critical time as China embarks on a new journey toward our second centenary goal. At this congress, the CPC will fully review the major achievements and valuable experience in China’s reform and development endeavors. It will also formulate programs to meet the development goals and the expectations of the people. We will continue to follow the Chinese path to achieve the rejuvenation of China, and we will continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. By doing so, we will continue to create new opportunities for the world and contribute to world peace and development and human progress.
I arrived in Mumbai two months ago. This is my first time to set feet on Indian soil. In the past 57 days, I paid tribute to Dr. Kotnis Memorial Hall, visited Bangalore, Pune and Solapur, met friends from a variety of areas and visited many Chinese invested companies. It is so obvious to me that our consular district is at the forefront of Indian development and opening-up. The economy is resilient and dynamic, the people are friendly and energetic, the culture is colorful and fascinating. I’m deeply impressed by your hospitality and the remarkable performance of Indian development. I’m pretty sure here will continue to take the lead in cooperation between China and India.
The world is never of one color. Today we are witnessing an evolution that has never been seen in the last century. Global economy is facing tremendous uncertainties. We should neither deny the difficulties existing in China-India relations. It seems there are more frustrations than hopes. But as my favorite Indian song Awaara Hoon goes “Zakhmon se bhara seena hai mera; Hansti hai magar yeh mast nazar”. Obviously my Hindi is very poor. Fortunately, Mr. Jawad will give us a professional performance of this classic song shortly after. The Chinese version of the lyrics is also touching, “命运虽如此凄惨，但我并没有一点悲伤，我忍受心中痛苦事幸福地来歌唱，有谁能禁止我来歌唱”. As a famous Chinese saying tells us “The sun is always brighter after storms”.
The theme of this reception is “Furthering bilateral cooperation, Deepening mutual benefits”. In our consular district, many Chinese invested companies are running business in banking, manufacturing, infrastructure and many other sectors. They are bringing high-quality products and services to Indian consumers, as well as focusing on R&D, technology transfer, talent training and social responsibilities. By doing so, they are not only writing their own successful stories, but also making huge contributions to local development. On the 75th Indian National Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi put forward the vision of building India into a developed country by 2047. China is also aiming at achieving our second centenary goal by 2049. As President Xi Jinping pointed out “China dream and India dream are interwoven”. What these Chinese invested companies are doing today is exactly interweaving the dreams. They are playing and will surely continue to play an important role in the strategy of Make in India, in the pursuit of a One-Trillion-Dollar economy by Maharashtra, and in fulfilling India dream as well as China dream.
At last, I want to take this opportunity to say a few words to the younger generation. I would like to show you a picture. It was taken early last month, two weeks after my arrival, on the Marine Drive. I met these lovely boys and girls when I was jogging. I believe everybody here is sharing my feelings. How vigorous and gorgeous you are! My dear young friends, Here is a torch, a torch of China-India friendship. It is passed on from Bodhidharma and Xuanzang, to the hands of Dr. Kotnis and Xu Fancheng. The passing on has lasted thousands of years, witnessing lots of ups and downs. Today the torch is still glittering splendidly in this beautiful hall. One day, it will be passed onto your hands. Please, do hold the friendship torch high! You are the future of China and India, you are also the future of China and India friendship.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the reopening of the Chinese Consulate General in Mumbai. It’s time to embark on the new era. Let’s stand side by side, inheriting the past and initiating the future.
May our friendship last forever, may the cooperation bear fresh fruits!
Thank you again, and hope you enjoy the night.