Your Excellency Minister Amer Bisat, representative of President of the Republic His Excellency General Joseph Aoun, and President of the Council of Ministers His Excellency Dr. Nawaf Salam,

Your Excellency Chairman Fadi Alame, representative of President of the National Assembly His Excellency Mr. Nabih Beri,

Major General Hassen Audi, representative of Defence Minister His Excellency Major General Michel Menassah and LAF Commander in Chief General Rodolphe Haykal,

Your Excellencies ministers, members of parliament, generals and heads of diplomatic missions,

Ladies and gentlemen and friends,

Marhaba, bienvenue, welcome, 欢迎光临.

Today, we gather in Beirut to celebrate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our distinguished guests, and express my sincere gratitude to all friends supporting China's development and China-Lebanon relations. I would also like to extend festival greetings to the Chinese community in Lebanon.

On 1 October 1949, the Chinese people, led by the Communist Party of China, won the great victory of the New Democratic Revolution, founded the People's Republic of China. This marked a new chapter in Chinese history, fundamentally changed the nation's century-long fate of poverty, weakness, and humiliation.

Over the past 76 years, China has achieved the dual miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability, emerged as the second largest economy, and for years contributed over 30% of the global growth. Since China launched its reform and opening-up in 1978, over 800 million people have been lifted out of poverty, accounting for more than 70% of the global poverty reduction.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with more than 150 countries on board, will help lift 7.6 million people out of extreme poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty by 2030, according to assessments by the World Bank. Under the framework of Global Development Initiative (GDI), China established the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund (GDF), supporting over 160 projects in countries including Lebanon, benefiting 30 million people.

As the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping, China has participated in dozens of UN peacekeeping missions, including the mission in Lebanon.

Over 70 years ago, China could not produce a single motorcar. Today, China has become the world's largest manufacturing powerhouse. It has led the world in automobile production and sales for sixteen consecutive years. China has the largest number of 5G base stations and the largest clean energy power grid. One in every three kilowatt-hours electricity consumed is green.

China is continuously achieving new breakthroughs in the fields of manned spaceflight, deep-sea and deep-earth exploration, artificial intelligence, supercomputers, quantum information, and new energy vehicles. New-quality productive forces are driving high-quality growth.

Against strong headwinds from external environment,  China’s GDP grew by 5.3% in the first half of this year. Total volume of import and export of goods expanded by 2.9%, with a 6.7% rise in July. Import reached 1.23 trillion US dollars in the first six months. In the first 7 months, trade between China and Lebanon reached 1.59 billion US dollars, up by 17.8% year-on-year, with China's import from Lebanon recording a 54% jump. China's stable growth injects stability and certainty into the global economy, while its vast market continues to make substantial contributions to global growth.

Ladies and gentlemen and friends,

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations. In the world today, the global economic recovery remains weak, while unilateralism, hegemony and power politics are severely undermining the United Nations and multilateralism. Regional conflicts are on the rise, and the deficit in global governance continues to grow. Should we uphold the international system with the UN at its core, or retrogress to the law of jungle where might makes right? This is a key issue to be addressed in our time.

China's answer can be found in the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) proposed by President Xi Jinping recently. The GGI, guided by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, staying committed to sovereign equality, international rule of law, multilateralism, people-centered approach and real results, aims to promote more just and equitable global governance and work together for a community with a shared future for humanity. The GGI is another major Chinese initiative following the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI). China will remain steadfast as a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods.

Ladies and gentlemen and friends,

Both China and Lebanon are cradles of ancient civilizations, with friendly people-to-people exchanges dating back to the ancient Silk Road era. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 54 years ago, our bilateral relations have enjoyed sustained, healthy and stable development. It is a fine example of mutual respect and mutual benefit among different countries and civilizations. I am deeply honoured to serve as the Chinese ambassador to this friendly country.

I have been in Lebanon for only about 80 days, but have reached out extensively to friends from the political, business, military, cultural and other sectors. I have visited several towns including Byblos, symbol of the Phoenician civilization and the ancient Silk Road, as well as Hammana, hometown of Dr. George Hatem, who was the first foreigner granted citizenship of the People's Republic and hailed as a pioneer of China's public health.

During the past months, I have been deeply immersed in Lebanon's rich heritage and its open and inclusive culture. I have been deeply struck by the Lebanese people's aspiration for a brighter future. I have witnessed the momentum for economic rebuilding. I have been touched by Lebanese people's warmth and friendship for China. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to the Lebanese government and friends from all quarters for facilitating and supporting my performance of duties.

I wish to reaffirm China's commitment to being a true friend and trusted partner of Lebanon, a staunch supporter to Lebanon in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and maintaining national security and stability. China opposes interference in Lebanon's internal affairs and violation of its sovereignty, and will continue to stand up for Lebanon and justice in international arena. China will continue, within its capacity, to provide assistance to Lebanon in its efforts to develop the economy and improve people's livelihood. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Lebanon under the BRI and encourage Chinese companies to participate in Lebanon's reconstruction.

Next year, we will celebrate the 55th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, and the second China-Arab States Summit will be convened in China. I am convinced that these landmarks will bring important opportunities for stronger China-Lebanon ties, and yield more fruits that benefit our two peoples.  

In concluding, I wish my great motherland continued prosperity. May China-Lebanon relations continue to flourish. And may all our distinguished guests enjoy good health.

Thank you. Shukran. Merci.