Dear Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis,
Dear Treasurer Fiona Ma,
Dear Secretary Amy Tong,
Dear Chief of Protocol Maryam Muduroglu,
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Good evening!
Today, we come together to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco, I wish to extend our warmest welcome to all of you. I also want to express our heartfelt gratitude to friends from all sectors for your support to China's development and to China-U.S. friendship and cooperation.
Over the past 74 years, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in forging ahead and achieving remarkable accomplishments. The 20th CPC National Congress held last year laid out an ambitious blueprint for our new journey. Along the path of Chinese modernization, we are now striving towards our second Centenary Goal through efforts in advancing prosperity and rejuvenation.
Despite the slowing global economic growth and complex international environment, the Chinese economy has kept its strong resilience, tremendous potential and great vitality. The fundamentals sustaining China’s long-term growth remain unchanged. This year, thanks to the adoption of a series of macro economic measures, the Chinese economy has shown an upward trajectory. Solid progress has been made in high-quality development. In the first half of this year, China's GDP grew by 5.5% year-on-year, surpassing expectations and outpacing world’s major economies. The IMF anticipates that China’s annual growth rate will reach 5.2% this year. China remains the primary driving force in the global economy, accounting for over 30% of world economic growth.
Foreign companies are optimistic about the prospect of China's high-quality development. Tesla, for example, is assembling an electric car every 40 seconds in its gigafactory in Shanghai, which actually produced half of Tesla's global deliveries last year. Starbucks now runs more than 6,500 outlets in China, and it is expanding further at a rate of opening a new store every nine hours on average. Going forward, China will remain committed to high-standard opening up and making progress in Chinese modernization through high-quality development. China’s success will mean more new opportunities of win-win cooperation between China and the rest of the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends,
Next year will be the 45th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic ties. A sound and stable China-U.S. relationship is in the interest of both countries. It is also the shared expectation of the international community. Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, as put forward by President Xi, are the right principles to follow if our two countries are to get along well with each other.
Recently, both sides have kept communication and dialogue in diplomatic, economic and trade, and climate change fields, producing constructive outcomes. It is also encouraging to see more mutual visits and more direct flights. Some have materialized, and more are being prepared. We are excited that Governor Newsom has publicly announced that he will lead a delegation from the State of California to visit China next month. It is therefore imperative for both sides to build upon the momentum, work in the same direction and continue to take concrete action to follow through on what our two presidents have agreed. By managing differences, enhancing dialogue and expanding cooperation, hopefully we will be able to steer China-U.S. relations back onto the right track.
The hope and foundation of the China-U.S. relationship lie in the people. President Xi has recently sent reply letters to the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, the grandson of General Joseph Stilwell, Mr. Easterbrook, and the Chairman of Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation and Flying Tigers veterans. This fully demonstrates the great importance the Chinese side attaches to people-to-people exchanges between our two countries. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco is committed to working together with friends from all walks of life in our consular district to promote sub-national exchanges and cooperation, strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two peoples and contribute to healthy and steady growth of China-US relations.
Today, we are also delighted to have with us many guests from the Chinese community. While living overseas, you always care about the development and progress of your Motherland. Since you have the advantage of knowing both cultures, it is our hope that you would continue to play an important role as a bridge in promoting mutual understanding and win-win cooperation between the Chinese and the American peoples. The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco is committed to Diplomacy for People, and will do whatever it takes to uphold the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese nationals, Chinese students and Chinese institutions.
To conclude, let me once again thank you all for your contribution to China-US friendship and for your strong support to the Consulate General.
One of the most important Chinese traditional festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival is drawing near. So please allow me to take this opportunity to wish all of you the very best and every happiness to your families!
May our two countries continue to prosper!
May the friendship between our two peoples keep growing in strength!
Thank you all!