The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China Holds a Special Event of Presenting Hubei Province to the World

On April 12, 2021, Presenting Hubei Province to the World - Special Event of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs themed “Heroic Hubei: Reborn for New Glories” was held at the Blue Hall of the Ministry. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech, Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Ying Yong and Secretary of the Wuhan Municipal Committee of the CPC Wang Zhonglin made presentations. Governor of Hubei Province Wang Xiaodong, and officials of the Foreign Ministry such as Party Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Foreign Ministry Qi Yu and Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng, as well as about 500 people including diplomatic envoys to China, representatives of international organizations in China, Chinese and foreign businessmen and the press attended the event.

Wang Yi said that today’s event is truly extraordinary, because we are presenting to the world the heroic province of Hubei and the heroic city of Wuhan. Just several days ago, on the 8th of April, we marked the anniversary of the end of the Wuhan lockdown. Wuhan was the first city to report COVID-19 cases and the first to bring the virus under control. For that reason, the one-year anniversary of reopening the city is not only a day to remember and celebrate, but also an occasion capturing the attention of the whole world. That is also why today’s event is by far the largest one, with the number of diplomatic envoys and representatives present hitting a new record. It speaks fully to people’s recognition for what Hubei and Wuhan have accomplished in fighting the virus and the expectation from various quarters for China’s post-COVID growth prospects.

Wang Yi said that for Hubei, the past year was one of great triumph over exceptional hardships. Hubei and Wuhan were the front line and main battlefield in the fight against the deadly virus. Under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and with support pouring in from across the country, the people of Hubei and Wuhan stood united as one and fought a tenacious battle with the virus. Their enormous sacrifice not only made China’s victory over COVID-19 possible, but also contributed significantly to the global COVID response. Hubei’s heroic fight against COVID-19 is an epitome of China’s response efforts, and more importantly, an embodiment of the unique character and strength of the Chinese nation. The people of Hubei have illustrated the great spirit of putting life above everything else, rallying the whole nation, braving danger, respecting science, and safeguarding a shared future.

Wang Yi said that for Hubei, the past year was one of rebirth and new glories. After controlling COVID-19, the people of Hubei, lost no time in starting a journey for reopening the economy and society. The pandemic and post-COVID reopening have served as an opportunity to boost economic upgrading and transformation. Hubei has again scored impressive achievements in the major test of rebuilding and reviving development. Having emerged from the trying times of the pandemic, the ancient land of Hubei will show still greater vigor and vitality.

Wang Yi said that a noble cause carries everyone forward; and compassion knows no borders. The unprecedented pandemic has driven home to all of us that the world is indeed a community with a shared future where all rise and fall together. Be it in coping with the current crisis or in making the world a better place for everyone, we must stay in solidarity and work together as one. As a responsible major country, China has fought the pandemic for the common good, not just for China itself; China has pursued shared prosperity, not just its own development.

We will uphold solidarity and mutual assistance as we work with other countries to prevail over the coronavirus. China will continue to fully harness its strengths to keep the global supply chains for COVID supplies stable; China will continue to provide humanitarian assistance and support countries in need; and China will make safe and effective vaccines affordable and accessible to more developing countries.

We will uphold openness and cooperation as we work with other countries to promote world economic recovery. The world may be full of uncertainties, but that is not the case with China’s future. China will further unleash the potential of its huge market to bring new development opportunities to all countries, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries to inject more impetus to world economic recovery.

We will uphold multilateralism as we work with other countries to build a community with a shared future. China opposes imposing hierarchy on countries and forming groups along ideological lines. The rights to life, health, survival, and development must be equally enjoyed by people of all countries. China will uphold true multilateralism, and safeguard the international order based on the UN Charter. China will work with other countries to maintain world peace and stability, bridge the development gap, and create a brighter future for all.

Wang Yi said that this year marks the centenary of the Communist Party of China. Over the past century, the CPC has stayed committed to a relentless pursuit and rallied the Chinese people in a historic transformation that sees the nation standing up, growing rich, and becoming stronger. Hubei, a heroic land, has a special place in the history of the CPC. It is home to many important historic events in the early days of the CPC. I hope that in this special year, you will have a chance to visit Hubei to see and feel for yourselves the great spirit of Hubei and Wuhan in fighting the pandemic, and experience the founding mission of the CPC and its journey of outstanding achievements over the past one hundred years.

Ying Yong introduced Hubei’s fight against the pandemic and post-COVID recovery, and expressed his gratitude to the governments and diplomatic envoys which have provided invaluable support for the province’s pandemic response. He said that Hubei stood the test of COVID-19, its fundamentals of long-term economic growth remain unchanged, its comprehensive advantages accumulated over the years are kept intact, and its important status in national and regional development stays the same. Today’s Hubei is healthy, safe, vigorous and promising. A newborn Hubei is standing at a new starting point of history with a completely new image to promote regional development planning of “region-wide coordination led by the central city (Wuhan) and driven by two wings (Xiangyang and Yichang)”, create China’s important growth pole, and firmly open its door wider to the world. All countries are welcome to learn about, publicize and invest in Hubei, to carry out all-round exchanges and cooperation, and to share development opportunities.

Wang Zhonglin recalled the 76 days and nights in Wuhan when the city was under a breathtaking fight against the pandemic, and said the city has reported no new local cases for almost 11 consecutive months and has resumed its security, health and vitality. As an important node city of the Belt and Road Initiative and a core city of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Wuhan is implementing significant strategies such as the Rise of Central China, coordinated development of city clusters in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, national innovation demonstration zone and national pilot free trade zone. People of all walks of life from China and abroad are welcome to share development opportunities and create a brighter future with Wuhan.

On behalf of diplomatic envoys, French Ambassador to China Laurent Bili and Brazilian Ambassador to China Paulo Estivallet de Mesquita congratulated on China’s victory over COVID-19, and appreciated the courage and solidarity displayed by the people of China and Hubei during the pandemic response. They said the story of a newborn Hubei will greatly inspire other countries in winning the war against the pandemic, and they will be committed to deepening friendly cooperation with China. Representatives of international friends, including Mayor of Oita (Wuhan’s sister city in Japan), responsible person of Honeywell and three international students in Wuhan made video speeches. They recalled the days of fighting against the pandemic with the people of Hubei and Wuhan, and wished a better future of Hubei and China.