On September 28th 2022, Ambassador Yu Hong and spouse held the reception for the celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at Rizqun International Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei. Ambassador Yu Hong delivered remarks, the full text is as follows:
Honorable Minister of Home Affairs, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman and Yang Mulia Pengiran Datin Hajah Norzana binti Pengiran Haji Rosli,
Pengiran Pengiran, Pehin Pehin, Dato Dato, Datin Datin,
Senior Officials from the government, Your Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners,
Dear compatriots, distinguished guests, friends from media,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening!
Tonight, we gather together to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Warm welcome to all friends joining us tonight. I would like to express my gratitude to Honorable Minister of Home Affairs, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman and Pengiran Datin Hajah Norzana binti Pengiran Haji Rosli for attending today’s event as the Guest of Honor, and share the joy of the Chinese National Day with us.
This year, facing a complex and challenging development environment both at home and abroad, China has stayed committed to the general principle of making advances while maintaining stable performance. China has continued to respond to COVID-19 and promote economic and social development in a well-coordinated way. Thus, to the greatest extent possible, China has both safeguarded the life and health of the people and ensured overall economic and social development. The average life expectancy in China rose to 78.2 years in 2021, compared with 77.3 years in 2019. The fundamentals of China’s economy, characterized by strong resilience, enormous potential, ample room for policy adjustment and long-term sustainability, will remain sound. This will greatly boost the stability and recovery of the world economy and provide more market opportunities for other countries.
China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council and the world’s largest developing country, is committed to boosting solidarity and cooperation with other countries. It will follow the trend of the times and pursue the shared interests of the vast majority of countries. China has been a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, a provider of public goods and a mediator of hotspot issues. Contributing about 30 percent of annual global growth, China is the biggest engine driving the global economy. China is a pacesetter in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has met the poverty reduction goal ten years ahead of the envisioned timeframe and accounts for 70 percent of the gains in global poverty reduction. China has provided over 2.2 billion doses of vaccines to more than 120 countries and international organizations, including Brunei. China is also an active participant in global governance and South-South cooperation. It set up the China-UN Peace and Development Trust Fund and the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. It has provided development aid to more than 160 countries in need, and extended more debt-service payments owed by developing countries than any other G20 member state.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will convene in Beijing in mid-October, and chart the blueprint for the next stage of China’s development. China will strive to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese style modernization and continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, create new opportunities for the world with its new development, contribute wisdom and strength to world peace and development, and the progress of human civilization.
At the moment, the COVID-19 pandemic is eroding decades of gains in global development, and people in all countries are more keen about pursuing peace, development and cooperation. Brunei actively supports China’s Global Development Initiative(GDI) and has joined the Group of Friends of the GDI to promote the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. On September 20, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of the GDI in New York, and further announced seven additional measures on the basis of 32 pragmatic measures that China has led in adopting. The meeting further consolidated international Consensus on the GDI. Last year when Brunei assumed the rotating chair of ASEAN, His Excellency President Xi Jinping and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal co-chaired the Special Summit to Commemorate the 30th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations and jointly announced the establishment of China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In November this year, ASEAN Countries will successively hold the Leaders’ Meetings on East Asian Cooperation, the G20 Summit, and the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, ushering in an “Asian moment” for the global governance. China will continue to hold high the banner of multilateralism, join hands with all peace-loving and development-seeking countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation and jointly meet challenges.
In the course of joint development and joint response to challenges, China and Brunei have always respected each other and constantly strengthened cooperation, with the bilateral relations maintained a steady momentum of development. Both sides cherish the hard-won regional peace and stability, respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, observe the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal has repeatedly stated that Brunei will unwaveringly adhere to the one-China principle, which China highly appreciates.
The two countries have enjoyed vigorous cooperation in extensive fields and closely cooperated in international and regional affairs. In August this year, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Brunei’s Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Erywan on the sidelines of foreign ministers’ meetings on East Asia cooperation in Phnom Penh and exchanged views on extensive issues. In 2021, the trade volume between China and Brunei was 2.85 billion US dollars, more than 200 times larger than that in 1991 when the diplomatic relations were established. In the first eight months of this year, the bilateral trade volume has surppassed 2 billion US dollars, up by 11% year on year. Next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. The BRI cooperation between China and Brunei has yielded fruitful results. The cooperation on Hengyi and Muara Port not only has promoted China-Brunei economic, trade and investment cooperation, but also has promoted the trade cooperation between Brunei and other countries. Since 2019, the Chinese Embassy organized the Brunei Primary School Students Painting Competition for four consecutive years. China has continuously provided training opportunities to Brunei. This year alone, China has provided online seminars covering the topics of technologies and management of weather modification, forestry program as well as tuberculosis prevention and treatment for 36 participants from Brunei, including 12 women. The Sino-Brunei joint venture Hengyi Industries, through its “Hengyi Future” program, has established scholarships and collaboration programs with Chinese and Bruneian universities and institutions, benefiting hundreds of Bruneian students, among whom over 100 have joined Hengyi Industries upon finishing studies. The Chinese coaches of the Brunei National Wushu Team have been helping to promote the development of Wushu in Brunei for 15 years. With their efforts, the Brunei’s Wushu athletes greatly excelled in international competitions. It is very welcome that they participate in next year’s Hangzhou Asian Games and achieve more good results.
Tonight, we will release the memorial photo album named 30 Years of Friendship compiled by the Embassy, as an express of our gratitude towards all our friends who have contributed to China-Brunei relations. I firmly believe that with the care and promoting efforts from China and Brunei governments and friends from all walks of life, China and Brunei will enjoy even closer relations and more solid friendship in the years ahead.
In conclusion, I wish China and Brunei enjoy peace and prosperity, and people of the two countries well-being. I wish you all good health and all the success.
Thank you very much.