October 1st this year marks the 71st anniversary of the founding of the people’s Republic of China. This is a festival for more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to be proud of and celebrate.
71 years ago, under the leadership of the Communist party of China(CPC), the Chinese people established a new China in which the people are the masters of the country through arduous struggle and dauntless fight.
Over the past 71 years, under the leadership of the CPC, China has made remarkable great achievements. So far, China has become the World’s second largest economy, met the basic living needs of its 1.4 billion-plus people, the life expectancy increased nearly to 77. China has established a sound industrialization system, with 900 million labor force, 170 million highly educated and skilled personnel resources and the largest middle-income group in the world. Since the sudden outbreak of this year’s COVID-19, under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese government has been centering the people, putting people’s life and health first, the Chinese people has made great efforts and sacrifices to fight the epidemic, and won great victory and precious time for the world’s anti virus. Without the Communist Party, there would be no new China, no prosperity of new China, no contribution of the Chinese people to world peace and development, and no victory over the rampant epidemic.(到此）
Over the past 71 years, China is a builder of the world peace, advocates “peaceful cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning, mutual benefit and win-win”, and safeguards the world peace, stability and development through its own development and prosperity. China adheres an independent foreign policy of peace, actively pursues peaceful and common development, upholds the multilateral trading system. Since the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, more than 150 countries and international organizations with China have signed over 170 documents on the BRI cooperation, China and the countries along the BRI jointly constructed more than 80 overseas economic and trade cooperation zones, and turn over the national tax fee of about $2 billion and created about 300,000 jobs for the countries, China’s trade cooperation with countries along the BRI has yielded fruitful results, this is a strong support for the UN Millennium Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The BRI originated in China, but it has benefited countries well beyond its borders. At the High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed, major changes unseen in a century are taking place in our world. The sudden attack of COVID-19 is a grave test for the entire world. Mankind has entered a new era of interconnectedness, with countries sharing intertwined interests and their future closely linked together. China is the driving force of global development, China has contributed on average to over 30% of global growth for 10 consecutive years with ranking first in the world. China will unswervingly work with the international community to build a community with a shared future for mankind, and make greater contributions to the cause of mankind progress.
Over the past 71 years, China has been Africa’s good brother, good friend and good partner. This year marks the 20th anniversary of FOCAC. With the joint efforts of both sides, China-Africa cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results. In recent years, China-Africa trade volume has reached $200 billion, and Africa’s exports to China increased by 30%. China has maintained its position as Africa’s largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years. China’s non-financial direct investment flow to Africa amounted to $3.16 billion, China’s investment in Africa totals more than $110 billion. China has helped Africa build more than 10,000 kilometers of highways, 6,000 kilometers of railways, 20 airports and terminal buildings, 30 bridges and ports, 80 power projects, and about 150 stadiums, conference centers and parliament buildings. China has built at least 25 economic and trade cooperation zones in Africa, also helped develop human resources for Africa to train hundreds of thousands of professionals and technicians in various fields, and built more than 300 people’s livelihood facilities such as hospitals and schools throughout Africa. In accordance with the relevant resolution of the UN Security Council, since December 2008, Chinese navy has send escort fleet to the Gulf of Aden and the waters of Somalia, so far total 36 escort fleets, 100 vessels have been dispatched, 7000 Chinese and foreign ships have been convoyed. Since the outbreak of this year, the China and Africa have strengthened each other with the solidarity, cooperation and mutual support, in extremely difficult circumstances, China offered more than 50 countries in Africa in the fight against epidemic materials, and met with more than 20 countries of Africa via video-link, shared experience in fighting against the epidemic, sent medical experts team invited by the more than 20 African countries, strengthen the technical cooperation, a total of 46 aid medical team, a total of 46 medical aid teams have worked side by side with the African people. China has always followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests launched by the Chinese President Xi Jingping. China has stood with African countries. Together, we have worked in unity and forged ahead.
China-Somalia friendship stretches back a long way. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Somalia. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 60 years ago, the friendly cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy, education, culture and people to people exchanges has achieved fruitful results. China firmly supports Somalia’s peace, reconstruction and development, respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia, sincerely thanks to the Somali government for its adherence to the one China policy and its valuable support to China for a long term. China has actively provided humanitarian assistance, development assistance and government scholarships to Somalia, helped Somalia develop its human resources and promoted the continuous development of China Somalia relations. China and Somalia uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual trust and mutual benefit. We are pleased to see that under the leadership of the Somali government, remarkable results have been achieved in the political, economic and security fields. We hope that all Somali people will work together for the revitalization and development of the country, make full use of Somalia’s great development potential in agriculture, fisheries, tourism, telecommunications, wind and solar energy, including Somalia’s unique culture, longest coastline and geographical advantages, and so on. China actively encourages Chinese enterprises to invest in Somalia, and now Chinese enterprises have invested in Somalia; China is willing to transfer technology with superior production capacity to help Somalia enhance its ability to self-develop its economy.
Since the outbreak of the epidemic this year, China and Somalia have have strengthened each other with the solidarity, cooperation and support to fight the epidemic together. China has overcome difficulties and actively provided support and assistance to the Somali side from the government to the people, demonstrating the brotherly friendship of the two peoples sharing weal and woe. China will continue to strengthen cooperation with the Somali side and push bilateral cooperation in various fields to a new height. China is willing to continue to work with the international community to promote peace and reconstruction in Somalia for new achievements.
By Qin Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Somalia
