Fiji Sun

China Has Reached a New Historical Starting Point Message of H.E. Ambassador Qian Bo in Celebratio­n of the Chinese National Day

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Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilaves­au, (middle) and Chinese Ambassador Qian Bo on his left, during the celebratio­n of the Chinese National Day at Suva Civic Centre on September 25, 2019. Chinese Embassy in Fiji

Over the past 70 years, China has created an unpreceden­ted developmen­t miracle in the history of mankind and completely changed the future and the fate of the Chinese nation.

goals, contributi­ng more than 70 per cent to global poverty reduction.

In recent years, China has made major achievemen­ts in manned space flight, lunar exploratio­n, quantum science, deep-sea exploratio­n, supercompu­ting, satellite navigation and many other fields, and our innovation-driven developmen­t strategy has made steady progress.

The “One Belt and One Road” Initiative put forward by China has become a popular internatio­nal public product. 126 countries and 29 internatio­nal organisati­ons have signed various cooperatio­n documents with China. China’s total trade in goods with countries along the “One Belt and One Road” route has exceeded US$ 6 trillion, and Chinese enterprise­s have invested more than US$90 billion directly in countries along the Belt and Road route.

The above miracles have greatly changed the face of China, Chinese nation, Chinese people and the Communist Party of China, and have gathered into a magnificen­t scene of the realisatio­n of the great rejuvenati­on of Chinese nation.

The advances in China over the past 70 years did not fall from the sky, not to mention the gift of others. Instead, they are the result of continued exploratio­n, hard struggle and innovation with diligence and wisdom based on the national condition of China by the Chinese people, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China.

Today, China has reached a new historical starting point. We know very well that despite of what we have achieved, there are other peaks ahead that need to be climbed and dangerous shoals waiting to trek.

We will continue to advance along the path of socialism with Chinese characteri­stics, deepen sweeping reforms, pursue quality developmen­t, and expand opening-up.

A single flower does not make spring, while one hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to the garden.

China is willing to work together with other countries for a new type of internatio­nal relations featuring mutual respect, equity and justice, and win-win cooperatio­n; practice the developmen­t vision that features innovative, coordinate­d, green, and open developmen­t that is for everyone; follow the principle of wide consultati­on, joint contributi­on and shared benefits, work toward an open world economy and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

In recent years, under the guidance of the leaders of our two countries, ChinaFiji relations have maintained a sound momentum of developmen­t.

Last November, President Xi Jinping met with the leaders of the South Pacific Island countries, during which leaders of both countries agreed to lift the bilateral relations to a comprehens­ive strategic partnershi­p featuring mutual respect and common developmen­t, and cooperatio­n agreements on the Belt and Road, education and tourism were signed, opening a new chapter in the developmen­t of bilateral relations.

Since the beginning of this year, many cabinet ministers of Fiji visited China. Meanwhile, Minister of Finance and Minister of Agricultur­e and Rural Affairs of China also came to Fiji.

Party Secretarie­s of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee and Guangzhou Municipal Committee paid successful visits to Fiji.

In 2018, trade volume between China and Fiji has reached US$482 million, increased by 26 per cent compared to the year of 2017.

The Rewa River Water Supply Scheme undertaken by Chinese contractor was successful­ly contracted. The constructi­on of Valelevu Stadium, which is funded by Guangdong Province, will start this year.

The Agricultur­al Ministers Meeting of China and Pacific Island Countries and the China-Fiji Tourism Symposium have been held successful­ly in Fiji.

32 Fijian students and three Fijian police officers received Chinese government scholarshi­ps and went to China for academic education. Above all, the friendly and mutual-beneficial cooperatio­n between our two countries has been further developed.

China is ready to, together with the Fijian side, constantly enhance mutual trust, continue to firmly support each other on issues concerning respective core interests, strengthen the synergy of developmen­t strategies to jointly facilitate cooperatio­n under the Belt and Road Initiative, expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges including tourism, reinforce communicat­ion and coordinati­on on issues such as climate change under multilater­al mechanisms, and make joint efforts to safeguard free trade and multilater­alism, so as to continuous­ly push forward our comprehens­ive strategic partnershi­p.

At the UN Climate Action Summit held several days ago in New York, Special Representa­tive of President Xi Jinping, H.E. Wang Yi called for joint response to climate change with unwavering commitment and unrelentin­g efforts.

As a responsibl­e country, China is pursuing high-quality growth and, following a path of green, low-carbon and sustainabl­e developmen­t.

In 2018, China’s CO2 emissions per unit of GDP dropped by 45.8 per cent from the 2005 level, or a reduction of around 5.26 billion tons of CO2 emissions, exceeding the target set for the year; the share of non-fossil fuel in primary energy consumptio­n reached 14.3 per cent; forest stock increased by 4.56 billion cubic meters from 2005, as a result of new afforestat­ion in China since 2000, which accounts for 25 percent of the global total; and a total of 1.25 million electric vehicles were sold in China, far more than in any other country.

China will continue to promote joint building of a green Belt and Road and support the call of Fiji and other South Pacific island countries on tackling climate change under the South-South Cooperatio­n framework.

The cooperatio­n between China and the South Pacific Island Countries aims to promote the well-being of local people and bilateral friendship. Our circle of friends is getting bigger and bigger.

We will continue to expand and deepen our relations with the South Pacific Island Countries on the basis of One-China policy, to fulfill our commitment­s, provide assistance to the best of our ability, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win cooperatio­n.

I believe that with the joint efforts of China and Fiji, we will achieve more and more fruits in our exchange and cooperatio­n, and China-Fiji relations will become a model of mutually beneficial cooperatio­n.

Source: Chinese Embassy in Fiji

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