Your Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,
Your Lordship the Honourable Sir Hartman G. Longley, Chief Justice,
The Honourable Allyson Maynard Gibson, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,
The Honourable Loretta Butler-Turner, Leader of Her Majesty’ Loyal Opposition,
Senator the Honourable Sharon Wilson, President of the Senate,
Fellow compatriots,
Friends from Chinese enterprises,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentleman,
Good evening!
Welcome to the 2017 Spring Festival Reception hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.
The Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival in China, which carries deep affection of family reunion and best wishes for happy life in the coming new year. In the Chinese zodiac calender, 2017 is the year of rooster, which stands for luckiness. In Chinese culture, rooster is the symbol of hardwork, faithfulness and success. Hereby, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in The Bahamas, I wish everyone present and all overseas Chinese in The Bahamas, members of Chinese enterprises in The Bahamas, and our Bahamian friends who care and support the development of China-Bahamas friendly relations, happy new year, and a prosperous and auspicious year of rooster.
The past year of 2016 marks a critical year of the decisive stage of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the crucial year of promoting supply-side structural reform. Under the strong leadership of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, China actively adapted to and led the new normal of economic development, carried out the new development concept, stuck to innovation-driven development, sped up the transformation of the development pattern and economic restructuring, thus accelerating the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. China’s economic operation remained in a rational range, and the economic growth stayed at the forefront of the world. China’s GDP growth in 2016 is expected to be 6.7 percent, which reaches the goal set at the beginning of the year. China is still one of the countries with the highest economic growth rate in the world. As the second largest economy of the world, though with slowed growth, China contributed more than 30 percent of the world economic growth.
In the year of 2016, near the beautiful West Lake in Hangzhou city, China held the 11th G20 Leaders’ Summit. We shared China’s wisdom and proposals with the world, and also presented to the world the magnificent, impressive and elegant image of China. The Belt and Road Initiative has sped up its progress and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was officially launched. China adheres to the peaceful development while resolutely safeguarding the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of China. We have more confidence in the bright future of our motherland.
Ladies and gentleman,
In 2016, China-Bahamas relationship went through further development and witnessed new achievements. The two countries saw exchange of visits at various levels and supported each other in international affairs. The BAHA MAR project successfully resumed construction, The Pointe project phase one has finished, and the North Abaco Port Project has reached its finishing stage. The economic cooperation continued to expand. People to people exchange became more active, the friendship between our two peoples deepened more than ever. I want to emphasize one thing, that is, all the achievements in the bilateral relations, cannot be made without the support and assistance of friends present and not present here. I would like to express my sincere gratitude and respect to all of you and those who care and support the development of China-Bahamas relations.
My fellow compatriots and members of Chinese enterprises, you have been working and living in The Bahamas, actively participated in the local community activities. At the same time you care about China’s development and have made positive contributions to the friendly cooperation and communication between China and The Bahamas. You are the bridge of friendship. In the coming new year, I hope you will continue to pay attention to the development of China, contribute your shares to the realization of the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation. The Chinese Embassy will continue to carry out the principle of putting people first and diplomacy for the people, do our best to serve everyone to ensure the warmth of our motherland be felt.
Ladies and gentleman,
In the year of 2017, the Communist Party of China will convene the 19th National Congress of historic significance. The year of 2017 also marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and The Bahamas, we will hold a series of celebrating activities for this important event. Just before 2017, the Chinese government issued the second “China's Policy Paper on Latin America and the Caribbean”, which provides new power to the development of win-win cooperation between China and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, including The Bahamas. In the new year, we will continue to enhance political trust and consolidate the foundation of our bilateral relations. We will promote pragmatic cooperation, expand the scope of economic and trade cooperation. We will deepen people to people exchanges, bringing our two peoples closer. I believe, with the joint efforts of our two sides, the friendship tree between China and The Bahamas will flourish, bear more fruits and bring more benefits to our two peoples.
Distinguished guests and friends,
Now, may I propose a toast,
To the prosperity of our two nations and happiness of our two peoples,
To the everlasting Chinese-Bahamian friendship,
To the health, success and happy family of everyone here, Cheers!