Your Excellency, Mdm. Paredes, first lady of the Republic of Peru,
Your Excellency, Minister of Interior Welta,
Your Excellency, Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ojeda,
Your Excellency, Police Chief of Staff Alvarez,
Your Excellency Vice Minister of Transportation and Communication Alvarez,
Director General Kyros of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Your Excellency former president Kuczynski,
Distinguished guests, diplomatic envoys,
Ladies and gentlemen, compatriots and friends,
Good evening!
Thank you for attending this reception to celebrate together the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. At the end of last month, my wife Qiao Yanfeng and I set foot on Peru, the mysterious land of Tawantinsuyu and origin of an ancient civilization. We are fascinated by the diverse geology, the well-endowed resources, the splendid Andes culture, and the brotherly people. It feels like coming home.
Peru was the third country in Latin America to establish diplomatic relations with China, the second to establish comprehensive strategic partnership with China and the first to sign a basket of free trade agreements with China. Peru has thus led China-Latin America relations. I am excited to note that in recent years political mutual trust between our two countries has continuously consolidated, with fruitful cooperation in various areas and ever deepening friendship between the people. In 2016, President Xi Jinping made a historic state visit to Peru, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations. Last year, the two countries solemnly celebrated the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. The two heads of state exchanged messages of congratulations, pointing the way forward for the development of bilateral relations. China has been Peru’s largest trading partner, the largest export market and major source of investment for 8 consecutive years in a roll. Despite the raging of the COVID-19 pandemic, China-Peru trade has not been “paused”. In 2021, bilateral trade exceeded US$37.3 billion, an increase of 60% YoY, bringing over US$10 billion trade surplus for Peru. Nearly 200 Chinese businesses have come to invest in Peru, making Peru the second largest investment destination for China in Latin America. Energy and mineral cooperation projects by China Minerals Corporation, China Aluminum, Capital Steel, and PetroChina have created large numbers of jobs and social benefits for the local people. Infrastructure projects such as the Chancay Port and the Sangawan hydropower station serve long-term development interests of Peru. The National Emergency Response Center and the Loaisa Hospital Maintenance Project built with Chinese assistance have made positive contribution to national development and improvement of people’s lives in Peru. Facing the pandemic, the people of the two countries have helped and watched out for each other, writing a new splendid chapter of friendship for a century. Our two countries and two peoples are good brothers, good partners, and good friends. As the 16th Chinese ambassador to Peru, I am filled with a glorious sense of mission and responsibility. I am ready to work with my colleagues to make the utmost efforts to join hands with Peruvian friends in government, parliament and different circles to promote the sound, steady, and sustained development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Peru.
Dear friends,
Coming recently from China, I would like to brief you on the latest developments of China. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered into a new era. Reviewing the past decade, under the leadership of CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at the core, China has made world-recognized achievements.
First, China has always put people front and center, relied on the people and delivered benefits to the people. China has achieved complete victory in the battle against poverty. 98.99 million poor population in the rural area have been lifted out of poverty. According the standard of the World Bank, the percentage of people getting out of poverty in China accounted for over 70% of the total number worldwide during the same period. In 2021, China’s per capita GDP reached US$ 12551, an increase of 69.7% on that of 2012, exceeding the global average per capita. The people are the country. Our goal is to deliver common prosperity to the entire population. According to a survey by the Kennedy School of Harvard University, the approval rating of the Chinese government by the Chinese people is over 90% for 10 years in a roll.
Second, China has upheld the new development concept featuring innovative, coordinated, green, and open development for all.
In terms of overall development, from 2013 to 2021, China’s GDP grew by an average of 6.6%, higher than the world average of 2.6% and developing country average of 3.7%. In 2021, the economic aggregate of China accounted for 18.5% of the world total, a solid second place among all nations. China’s average contribution rate to world economic growth is over 30%, ranking top of the world. China has maintained overall coordination between pandemic response and economic and social development, protecting the lives and safety of the people to the largest extent while maintaining the sound fundamentals of economic and social development.
In terms of innovation, China’s overall input into research and development now ranks second in the world. Its ranking in the global innovation index rose to the 12th place in the world in 2021.
In terms of “coordinated development”, the economic structure has been continuously optimized. China’s manufacturing industry has ranked top of the world for 11 years in a roll. The contribution rate to economic growth of ultimate domestic consumption is 65.4%, the largest driving force for economic growth.
In terms of “green development”, man is living in an increasingly harmonious world with nature in China. The total acreage of forests over the past 10 years has reached 59.44 million hectares. Lush mountains and lucid water is as valuable as mountains of gold and silver.
In terms of “open development”, in 2020 China’s total trade in goods and services reached US$ 5.3 trillion, making it the largest trading nation in the world. In 2021, its total volume of trade in goods and services reached US$ 6.9 trillion, maintaining its top positon in the world. The Canton Fair, the Shanghai International Import Expo and the CIFTIS in Beijing have shown to the world that the door of China is wide open.
In terms of “development for all”, over the past decade China’s poverty incidence has fallen by 1.3 percentage points. The number of people with stable employment has been kept at over 740 million. The sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security of the Chinese people has been greatly enhanced.
Third, China’s development has benefited people around the world. Facing changes and a pandemic both unseen in a century in a period of turbulence, China has held high the banner of building a community of a shared future for mankind, promoted high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and initiated the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, thus contributing Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions.
Dear friends,
The Chinese people will continue to make unrelenting efforts with great resolve and courage to “break the waves”. Next month, the Communist Party of China is going to convene its 20th National Congress, which will mark a new journey of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and towards the Second Centenary Goal. With new development, China will bring new opportunities for the world, new strength for promoting world peace and progress of human civilizations and surely splendid prospects for friendly cooperation between China and Peru!
I would like to propose a toast to the prosperity of our two countries, lasting friendship between our two peoples and good health of all of you!
Cheers!
