Dear friends,

Honorable guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thank you and warmly welcome you for being here, together with us, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). On this special occasion, we have prepared something different for today’s reception. Following my short address, some young talented performers from the Renmin University of China will be present here, and they are going to give us a small show on traditional Chinese music. We also have arranged a photo exhibition themed with “the changed daily lives of Chinese people”. Some traditional Chinese food as you may see has been ready. Before taking time to enjoy the music, pictures and food, I would like to take this opportunity to brief you about the grand changes and comprehensive achievements made in China over the six decades.

60 years ago, exactly on the same date, Oct. 1st, in 1949, a new China was born, and the Chinese people began to enjoy real national independence. After decades of efforts and hardships, especially after recent 30 years’ reform and opening-up, China has turned itself from a poor and weak state to a prominent player in the international arena, with remarkable achievements in various fields.

Firstly, a socialist market economy is taken shape and an all-round pattern of opening up is fully established. China’s GDP has increased by 77 times to around 4.4 trillion U.S. dollars in 2008, ranking the 3rd in the world, with an annual growth rate of 8.1% in average. The foreign trade volume has enlarged by 2485 times, and foreign reserve by more than 10 thousand times, which respectively take the 3rd and 1st place worldwide. In 2008, the foreign investment actually used amounted to 92.4 billion U.S. dollars, while we also have carried out overseas project contracts in more than 190 countries. According to UN World Economic and Social Survey, China’s economic growth has made 22% contribution to the world economy in 2008, and in 2009, this figure may climb up to 50%.

Secondly, a fundamental social and political system to promote and safeguard human rights has been established. People’s living standards have had historic leaps, from poverty to subsistence, and then to well-off. The number of absolute poverty reduced from 250 million to less than 15 million, making China the first country to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals. Against this backdrop, China has endeavored to promote law-based governance, improve the system of people’s congresses, and reinforce political consultations, while further improve the education, medical and health services. In ancient China, we had an age-old dream, which is to have the young educated, the sick treated and the old cared for. Now I would like to say, this dream is being turned into reality.

Thirdly, 60 years have witnessed increasing closer inter-connection between China and the world. China has established diplomatic relationship with 171 countries, compared with 18 by the time it was founded. Meanwhile China has been playing a constructive role in promoting world peace and development. For instance, China is taking UN peacekeeping tasks in 15 different places with over 6000 personnel and soldiers, ranking the first among the five permanent UN Security Members. And from the North Korea nuclear issue to the Iran nuclear issue, from the global financial crisis to the climate change issue etc., China is making due efforts to promote peace and common prosperity with all partners.

The progress and contributions made in 60 years could never be fully-illustrated by my today’s speech. All I want to stress is, China is changing fast, and so is the world. Today living in a “global village”, we different countries have never been that closed with each other. With interlaced interests and benefits, dialogue and cooperation become the only feasible way to solve problems, address conflicts, make progress and achieve success.

Meanwhile, ladies and gentleman, China is still the world’s largest developing country, facing many difficulties and challenges. Among the population of 1.3 billion, 800 million are still in rural areas. Its per capita GDP still ranks below 100th in the world. Structural problems, such as income disparity, unequal regional growth and imbalanced urban and rural economy, all are taken as obstacles on our way ahead.

Being aware of all the facts mentioned above, one shall easily find the right track for the China Rocket. With the aim to basically achieve modernization by the middle of this century, China will be steadfast in accomplishing four major tasks: first, to adhere to the policy of opening up and reform; second, to develop green economy and pursue sustainable development through scientific and technological innovation; third, to promote economic growth while ensuring social equity and justice, as well as socialist political democracy; and fourth, to cooperate with all other nations in building a peaceful and harmonious world, while shouldering our share of international responsibilities.

60 years may sound pretty much for a person, but is rather short for a nation. The journey ahead will be long and arduous, but we have the full confidence to succeed through joint efforts and minds.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China’s development is tied to the rest of the world, which in turn will not prosper without China. At this moment of great celebration, I would also like to express heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all of you, my friends present or absent, for all the attention, love, assistance, and efforts you made for China’s development and for the Sino-Danish relationship.

Thank you.

Now please enjoy the Chinese music performance!