Remarks by Consul General Zhang Ping at the Reception to Celebrate the 69th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China

Consul General Zhang Ping

October 1st is China’s National Day. This year marks the 69th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is with great pleasure that my wife and I together with my colleagues of the Consulate can join our distinguished guests in celebrating this great day of the Chinese nation. On behalf of the Consulate General of China in Los Angeles, I would like to extend warm welcome to everyone present here tonight.

69 years ago, the founding of the People’s Republic of China opened a new chapter of China’s history. Over the last 69 years, especially over the last 40 years of reform and opening-up, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have made concerted and unremitting efforts in their pursuit for the country’s development and have achieved historic achievements in reform, opening-up and modernization effort. China’s social productivity and comprehensive national strength have achieved historic leaps and bounds. People’s livelihood is getting better off. China’s international standing has witnessed a significant rise. Socialism with Chinese characteristics has crossed the threshold into a new era. The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation: It has stood up, grown rich, and is becoming strong; it has come to embrace the brilliant prospects of rejuvenation.

China adheres to the new development philosophy. We have been working hard to deepen reform, expand opening-up, advance innovation and boost the new drivers for economic growth. In the first half of this year, the Chinese economy grew by 6.8%, staying on the track of steady progress. China’s economic structure and growth pattern has seen a major shift, which lays a solid foundation for sustained and sound economic growth.

China sticks to the path of peaceful development and adheres to the strategy of opening up for win-win outcomes, committing itself to peaceful coexistence and equal partnership with other countries. Since this year, China’s diplomacy has presented many highlights and the “Belt and Road” construction achieved further progress. The ideas which China advocates for a new form of international relations and building a community with a shared future for human have won more and more recognition in the international community. China’s development has opened up new prospect for peace and development of mankind, bringing unprecedented opportunities to all other countries, including the U.S.

China is the largest developing country while the U.S. is the largest developed country. Being the two largest economies of the world and UN Security Council members, whether the two countries can maintain a healthy and stable relationship will have a direct impact on the wellbeing of our peoples. It will also have a significant bearing on world peace and prosperity.

Since China and the U.S. established diplomatic relations nearly 40 years ago, bilateral exchanges in various areas have remained frequent. Practical cooperation has kept expanding. Sub-national relations and people-to-people ties has become robust. China has become California’s largest trading partner and third largest export destination for goods. Among the American states, California has attracted the most Chinese investment and tourists and has the biggest number of international students from China, illustrating the mutually beneficial nature of China-US economic and trade relations and demonstrating the vigor and vitality of sub-national cooperation.

Though China-US relations went through some difficulties this year, however, from the various voices I heard from different walks of life in our consular district, most American people still hold nice sentiments towards the Chinese people with sincere expectations on China-US relations. The deep rooted friendship between our two peoples, the close sub-national connections and the broad common interests between our two countries provides strong impetus to the continuous development of China-US relations and gives us the confidence in the relationship.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank our friends from all walks of life, including the members of Chinese community and friends from the media, for your long time care and support to the China-US relations.

At present, China-US relations are at a critical juncture. Cooperation benefits both countries while confrontation can only hurt. Proceeding from the common interest of the two peoples, China has been devoted to working for a sustained, healthy and steady China-US relationship. Dialogue and consultations based on equality, good faith and mutual respect are the only viable way out for solving the China-US trade issues. The Chinese economy has sufficient resilience, potential and space for maneuver. We have the confidence, ability and means to cope with the current difficulties and challenges, and safeguard our legitimate rights and interests.

China will work even harder to advance reform and opening-up. We will further widen market access, enhance convergence with international economic and trade rules, so as to create a market environment in which companies of all ownerships, be they Chinese or foreign-owned, are treated as equals and compete on a level playing field and to foster a world class business environment.

We will make all effort to protect intellectual property rights (IPR), further strengthen law enforcement and introduce a more rigorous mechanism of punitive compensation for IPR infringements to deter violations and better protect innovators from all sectors.

We will take further steps to expand imports, introduce more high quality goods and services to the Chinese market, so as to meet people’s growing needs for a better life and make our contribution to the development of world economy.

Next year, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The great achievement that new China has made has laid solid foundation for the nation’s great renewal. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Chinese people are advancing courageously towards the goal of realizing national rejuvenation. No difficulties or obstacles can stop us from marching forward.

Next year also marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S. A good China-US relationship is what our two peoples aspire for. We look forward to working more closely with our friends in our consular district to further advance sub-national exchanges and cooperation, so as to let the results of 40-year-long relationship deliver more benefits to our two peoples and contribute more to the peace and prosperity of the world.