Honorable Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Maldives，
Honorable Mr. Fasial Naseem, Vice President of the Maldives,
Honorable Mr. Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,
Good Afternoon!
Warm welcome!

The golden October ushered in a series of auspicious occasions. October 1st is the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People Republic of China, and October 14th marks the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic
relations between China and Maldives. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been successfully convened this week.

Today, we are so happy to get together to celebrate these important occasions of special historic significance. Over the past 73 years since the founding the P.R.C., under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have overcome all difficulties and strived together with unity and fortitude, achieving rapid economic development and long-term social stability, two miracles rarely seen in the world. Earthshaking changes have taken place in China. In particular, over the past 10 years since18th CPC National Congress, under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of CPC with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China development has made historic achievements and undergone historic changes. The past decade witnessed three major events of great immediate importance and profound historical significance for the cause of the CPC and Chinese people.

We embraced the centenary of the Communist Party of China; we ushered in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and we eradicated absolute poverty and finished building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, thus completing the First Centenary Goal. We are now embarking on a new journey to realize the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.
We have followed the people-centered philosophy of development, won the biggest battle against poverty in human history, historically solved the problem of absolute poverty, and made an important contribution to the cause of global poverty alleviation.

We have applied the new development philosophy in a comprehensive manner to promote high-quality development and foster a new development paradigm. China economic strength has made a historic leap, with China GDP growing from 54 trillion yuan in2012 to 114 trillion yuan in 2021, and its share in the world economy rising to 18.5%, an increase of 7.2 percentage points, placing it firmly in thes econd place in the world.

We have adopted a more proactive opening-up strategy, and jointly building the “Belt and Road” has become popular international public goods and an international cooperation platform. China has become a major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions in the world.

We have been committed to pursuing a development path that puts ecological conservation first, one of green and low-carbon growth. We announced the ambitious carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and are working to implement the Paris Agreement. China accounts for one-fourth of all the trees planted globally. We have been making unremitting efforts to foster a community of life for man and Nature.

We have continuously promoted building of a community with a shared future for mankind, firmly upheld equity and justice in international arena, advocated to practice true multilateralism, unwaveringly opposed hegemonism and power politics.

We have actively worked for a new type of international relations, participated actively in the reforming and building of global governance system, and fully engaged in international cooperation against COVID-19, which was thought
highly of by the international community.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Friends,
The much-anticipated 20th CPC National Congress has successfully concluded this morning. The National Congress elected the new Central Committee of CPC, and mapped out the blueprint for China’s future development. We warmly congratulate the newly elected Central Committee of CPC, and firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the new Central Committee of CPC, the Chinese people will make new achievements on the new journey toward the grand goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great
rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

President Xi Jinping stressed in the report of the 20th National Congress, the world once again stands at a crossroads in history, and the choice of where to go depends on the choices of all peoples. China has always adhered to the foreign policy of maintaining world peace and promoting common development, and is committed to promoting the building of a community of a shared future for mankind.

China persists on developing friendship and cooperation with other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, promotes the building of a new type of international relations, deepens and expands the global partnership of equality, openness and cooperation, and is committed to expanding the joints of interests with other countries. China has proposed Global Development Initiatives and Global Security Initiatives and is willing to work with the international community to implement them. We sincerely call on all countries to pursue the shared human values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, to promote mutual understanding and friendship among peoples, and to jointly address various global challenges. The Chinese people are ready to join hands with the people of the world including the Maldivian people to create a better future for humanity!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Maldives. On 14th October, President Xi Jinping and President Solih exchanged congratulatory messages with each other. The two heads of state spoke highly of the development of our bilateral relationship and set a clear direction for its future development. President Xi highlighted that over the past 50 years of diplomatic ties between China and Maldives, the two countries have always respected and supported each other, which has set a good example of countries of different sizes treating each other as equals and seeking win-win cooperation. In recent years, the two countries tided over difficulties together and offered helping hands to each other, worked together to cope with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic unseen in a century, deepened cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiatives as well as upheld and promoted the true multilateralism, which provided new impetus into and opened up new prospect for China-Maldives relations.

President Solih pointed out that the Maldives-China relationship is based on the Maldives’ firm commitment to the one-China principle. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Maldives relations have maintained a good momentum of steady development. Both sides have understood and supported each other on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns. The Maldivian government has been firmly committed to the one-China principle. China has been strongly supporting the Maldives to speed up economic and social development and improve self-development capability.

The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, a landmark project of the Belt and Road Initiative and the symbol of the profound friendship between China & Maldives, has witnessed over 100 million crossings by the local people over the past 4 years. So far Chinese companies have completed more than 11,000 social housing units, and contributed a lot in improving the living conditions of local residents. The newly upgraded and expanded Velana International Airport has doubled its previous capacity and will greatly promote the development of Maldivian tourism in leaps and bounds. Facts have proved that close cooperation between China and Maldives have brought transformative effects tothe Maldives and tangible benefits to the Maldivian people. China and Maldives are now embarking on a shared path to hope, prosperity and happiness. Looking into the future, China and the Maldives should continue with the past and open up the future to write a new chapter for our bilateral relations with a more far-reaching eyesight and broader vision. China is ready to work with the Maldives in further enhancing political trust, strengthening practical cooperation, expanding people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as deepening traditional friendship so as to promote our future-oriented all-round friendly and cooperative partnership to a new level !

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the friends from all walks of life who have long supported China-Maldives relations.
May I wish our two countries prosperity and the two peoples happiness.
May I wish China and Maldives enjoy everlasting
friendship!
Thank you!