H. E. Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda,

Honorable Ministers,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my great honor and pleasure to have you here at our National Day reception. First of all, please allow me to extend my heartfelt gratitude to H. E. Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda. Thank you, Your Excellency, for sharing this moment of joy with all of us!

Ladies and gentlemen,

October 1st this year marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the past six decades, in particular, since China’s reform and opening-up to the outside world in late 1970s, earth-shaking changes have taken place in the nation. China has successfully transformed its highly planned economy into the socialist market economy with vigor and vitality. Its GDP has climbed up significantly through the sixty years, ranking the third in the world now. China’s overall national strength has been amazingly enhanced and international status greatly improved. Chinese people have shaken off general poverty and lived in overall prosperity. China has turned itself from a closed and semi-closed nation into an open society in an all-round manner.

Ladies and gentlemen,

On the international arena, China's diplomacy has achieved world-acclaimed results over the past sixty years. We resolutely safeguard the national sovereignty, security and development interests and commit ourselves to the world peace, development and cooperation. The number of countries having diplomatic relations with China has increased from 18 in the early days to 171 today.

We have, as always, been enhancing solidarity and cooperation with the developing countries, African nations in particular. China and Africa share similar historic experience and China-Africa friendship has a long history. After the founding of New China, the Chinese government provided firm support to the people of Africa in their just cause to gain and safeguard independence and develop national economy. With the support of overwhelming majority of African countries, China restored its legitimate status in the UN in 1970s, while its diplomatic stage soon extended far and wide globally.

Today, China stands ready to develop and strengthen a new type of strategic partnership with Africa, featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchange. Since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006, China's exchanges and cooperation with African countries in the political, economic and cultural fields have entered a new stage. This coming November the Fourth Ministerial meeting of China-Africa Cooperation Forum will be held in Egypt, which will draw a blueprint for China-Africa cooperation in the years to come and will surely usher China-Africa ties into a new height.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We take great pleasure in noting that under the leadership of H. E. President Paul Kagame, Rwanda now enjoys national unity, good governance and rapid social and economic transformation. In the regional affairs, Rwanda has played a constructive role in the peace process of the Great Lakes region. As the current rotating president of the EAC, Rwanda has taken the lead in promoting economic and political integration in the region. I believe, as a promising star and reformer of the Continent, Rwanda will continue to play an increasingly important role in the region and Africa at large.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As an old Chinese saying goes, nothing can separate people with common goals and ideals, not even mountains or seas. Despite the long distance between China and Rwanda, people of the two nations have been engaged in friendly cooperation and exchanges since long. Our bilateral ties have grown significantly in recent years. In the international affairs, China and Rwanda rendered support to each other on issues bearing upon each other’s core interests. Both sides maintained consultation and coordination on global issues such as world financial crisis, energy security, food safety, climate change and H1N1 fighting. At the special UN climate change summit recently, the two leaders of China and Rwanda shared similar positions on climate change in their keynote speeches. Both sides maintained frequent exchange of visits at all levels. Chinese Foreign Minister officially visited Rwanda early this year and the JPC meeting was convened in Peking this summer. Bilateral economic cooperation and trade expanded greatly. The Eight measures of the Beijing Summit witnessed smooth implementation in Rwanda, such as the agricultural demonstration center, one hospital and two primary schools. The Chinese side supports Rwandan efforts to enhance capacity building. We have had many successes in our joint efforts in the health, agricultural and educational spheres. Meanwhile we encourage more Chinese enterprises and banks to come to Rwanda for investment and business doing, in particular, to become an active player in the private sector here. We are ready to work together with the Rwandan side to build a new type of China-Rwanda partnership featuring mutual benefit, reciprocity, sustainable development and win-win.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As we gather here tonight to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China and to honor the strong relationship between China and Rwanda, we have every reason to believe that, with the concerted efforts of the two sides, China and Rwanda will make new headway in their respective national development and China-Rwanda ties will grow stronger and closer.

Now, may I ask you to join me in a toast

To the prosperity of China and happiness of the people,

To the health of H.E. President Paul Kagame,

To the friendship between China and Rwanda,

And to all the distinguished guests present!

Cheers!