中国驻新西兰大使张利民在国庆60周年招待会上的讲话


尊敬的麦卡利外长，
尊敬的黄徐毓芳部长，
各国驻新使节阁下，
各位来宾，
女士们、先生们：


承蒙各位出席庆祝中华人民共和国成立60周年招待会，与我们共度国庆佳节，本人倍感荣幸。我谨代表中国驻新西兰大使馆，并以我夫人和我个人的名义，向出席招待会的各位嘉宾表示热烈的欢迎，并致以节日的祝贺和诚挚的问候！


60年前中华人民共和国的成立，开辟了中国历史的新纪元。60年来，中国各族人民团结奋斗，用自己的智慧与汗水使祖国走上复兴之路。60年来，中国GDP增长了440倍，外汇储备增长了1000倍，由一个贫穷落后的国家一跃成为世界第三大经济体、第三对外贸易大国和第一大外汇储备国。我们解决了13亿人口的温饱问题，把贫困人口从2.5亿减少到1000万，把人均寿命由1949年的35岁，提高到2005年的73岁，把文盲由占人口80%降到6.67%。60年来，中国不仅经济面貌发生翻天覆地的变化，政治、文化、社会建设等领域也取得了举世瞩目的成就。具有中国特色的社会主义发展模式正焕发出勃勃生机，中国人民在科学发展观的指引下阔步前进。


60年来，中国与世界的关系也发生了历史性变化。目前，与中国建交的国家已从建国初期的18国增加到171国；中国已参加100多个政府间国际组织，300多个国际公约，22项联合国维和行动，累计派出维和人员上万人次；中国已从建国初期处于国际体系的边缘，走到了国际舞台的中心，成为国际体系的积极参与者和建设者。快速发展的中国将始终不渝地坚持走和平发展的道路，愿与世界各国一道，为建设持久和平与共同繁荣的和谐世界而不懈努力。


女士们、先生们！


中新建交37年来，在两国政府和人民的共同推动下，两国关系全面深入发展。新近年来在发展对华关系上连续取得四个“第一”（即第一个与中方就中国加入世界贸易组织达成双边协议、第一个承认中国完全市场经济地位、第一个与中方启动谈判并签署双边自由贸易协定的发达国家）。这是双边关系健康良好发展的有力佐证。自中新签署自贸协定以来，尽管受到国际金融危机的冲击，但新对华出口仍保持20%以上的增长，这是“以合作求共赢，以合作求发展，以合作振信心”的体现。目前，中国是新西兰第二大进口来源地和第四大出口市场。除经贸领域外，两国在教育、文化、科技等领域的交流也不断深化，人员往来不断增多。


当前，中新关系处于历史上最好的发展时期，并保持良好发展势头。两国正在积极推进自贸协定的实施。今年4月，约翰·基总理成功访华，两国领导人就双边关系和共同关心的国际地区问题深入交换意见并达成重要共识，为双边关系的进一步发展指明了方向。我们相信，中新发展长期互利友好合作不仅符合两国和两国人民的共同愿望和根本利益，也有利于维护和促进亚太地区的和平、稳定与发展。中新关系堪称不同政治制度、不同意识形态和不同历史文化背景之间开展互利合作的典范。在此，我要对长期以来支持中新关系发展的朋友们表示衷心的感谢！


女士们、先生们！


在历史的长河中，60年不过是短暂的一瞬，但过去的60年对中国、对世界来说却是走向稳定、祥和与繁荣的大变革时期。我相信，在中国人民和世界人民的共同努力下，这种趋势会继续保持并不断加强。最后，我提议，为新西兰女王伊丽莎白二世陛下，为新西兰人民，为在座的各位朋友的身体健康，干杯！


谢谢大家。


Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Zhang Limin at the Reception Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the PRC


The Honourable Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
The Honourable Pansy Wong, Minister of Ethnic Affairs,
Excellencies members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,


I feel very much honored to have so many friends here this evening celebrating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On behalf of the Embassy and also in the name of my wife and myself, I wish to extend our warm welcome and festive greetings to all of you.


Six decades ago, the founding of the PRC ushered in a new epoch in the Chinese history. Over the years, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups have made concerted efforts and brought into full play their wisdom and creativeness in rejuvenating their beloved motherland. Thanks to the policy of reform and opening up to the outside world followed in the last 30 years and more, China has now embarked on the fast track of development and changed from a highly centralized planned economy to a market economy with socialist characteristics. Tremendous progress has been made in every field, witnessing earth-shaking economic growth, ever-increasing overall national strength, world-acclaimed achievements and wonders. It has developed from a once poor and backward country to the 3rd largest economy in the world. Its state revenue has increased 1000 foreign reserve has increased more than 10,000 times amounting to some US$ 2 trillion, ranking first in the world. The average personal savings of its people have also increased some 10,000 times, while income of the urban residents has increased about 150 times and that for the rural residents over 100 times. Last year, the import and export of my country totaled US$ 2.56 trillion, making it the third largest trading economy in the world. China's GDP has risen 440 times since records began and now reached some 30 trillion RMB or about US$ 4.4 trillion. Last year, it contributed 22% to the global economy, ranking first in the world. We have successfully solved the problem of feeding and clothing a population of 1.3 billion. The rural poverty-stricken population has been reduced from over 250 million to some 10 million. People's life expectancy has risen from 35 years in 1949 to 73 years in 2005. The illiteracy rate has been reduced from 80% of the total population in the early days of the Republic to merely 6.67% at present. Now almost 100% of the school-age children have access to nine-year compulsory education. Last year, we showcased the 29th Beijing Olympics and successfully fulfilled the manned spacecraft mission.  Based on the above-mentioned achievements, the development mode of socialism with Chinese characteristics is demonstrating its unique vigor and vitality, and the Chinese people are now marching forward with pride and confidence under the guidance of the scientific outlook on development put forward by the CPC Central Committee.


60 years is but a fleeting moment in human history. In the past six decades, China has witnessed great changes towards peace, stability and prosperity. A fast growing China will always stick to the road of peaceful development, and be ready to work with other countries to strive for a harmonious world with enduring peace and common prosperity.


Ladies and gentlemen, it is known to all that since last year no country, including China, has been able to stay immune from the international financial crisis. As a result, great pressure and shock has been imposed on the economic and social development of my country. In the face of this sudden disaster, the Chinese government lost no time in making swift and decisive adjustments to its macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary policies, putting in place a package plan with an investment of 4 trillion RMB, or about US$ 600 billion, so as to ensure a steady yet relatively fast economic growth. These efforts now have started to pay off and positive signs have appeared in our economy. China will continue to push forward the policy of liberalization on trade and investment and work more closely with other countries so as to combat the current international economic setback.


Ladies and gentlemen, the relationship between China and the rest of the world has undergone fundamental changes in the past 60 years. The number of countries having diplomatic relations with China has increased from 18 in the early days of the People's Republic to 171 at present. China has joined over 100 inter-governmental organizations, acceded to over 300 international conventions, participated in 22 UN peace keeping operations with a dispatch of over ten thousand relevant personnel. China has all along adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, development and cooperation, playing an increasingly important role in international and regional affairs. It has now entered into new types of cooperative relations or constructive partnerships with most of the countries in the world. In this regard, the Sino-New Zealand relationship has set a good example for countries with different cultures, histories, values and political systems. In the past 37 years since our diplomatic ties were established, thanks to the joint efforts made by both countries and peoples, the bilateral relationship has seen an all-round and unceasing development, with frequent exchanges of high level visits and increasingly expanding cooperation of mutual benefits in such fields  as economy, trade , culture, education, science and technology. PM John Key's visit to my country April this year is just a case in point and the well-known "four firsts" that we are all familiar with, may serve as another evidence. It is absolutely true that New Zealand is the first developed country to sign bilateral agreement on China's entry into WTO, the first developed country to recognize China's full market economy status, the first developed country to start and complete the bilateral FTA negotiations. Thanks to the FTA, by July 2009 New Zealand's export to China had increased 60.7% while import from China increased 10.7%, compared with the same period last year. The business volume between our two countries last year topped 9 billion New Zealand dollars, with an increase of over 19% despite the international economic setback. China has now become New Zealand's 2nd largest trading partner, 2nd largest source of imports and 3rd largest export market. Over 30,000 Chinese young people are now studying here, making China New Zealand's largest source of overseas students. China is also the 4th largest source of overseas tourists for New Zealand. Some 112,000 Chinese citizens visited this country last year. Just as Prime Minister John Key pointed out in his recent message to the Embassy for the 2009 Chinese Film Festival: "Premier Wen Jiabao said he thought the relationship between our two countries had never been better, and I agree."


As the Chinese Ambassador, I am fully convinced that our bilateral relations will be further developed and strengthened in the years to come. Now please raise our glasses and drink a toast:To Her Majesty Elizabeth Ⅱ, Queen  of  New Zealand , and the people of New Zealand.


Cheers !