Dear Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning!
I am very glad to meet you again after so many days. I sincerely welcome and thank you all for attending the symposium held by the Embassy to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Today is July 1st, the day when the CPC was born 100 years ago. I believe it is of special significance for us to get together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, look back to the extraordinary journey and great achievements made by the CPC, and look ahead to the bright future and promising prospect of China.
A grand ceremony was held in Beijing this morning to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the CPC. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech, comprehensively summarized the past glorious century during which the CPC led the Chinese people to march from one victory to another, and announced that China has realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. All of these make people feel extremely excited and proud.
100 years seem like the blink of an eye in long history. But the past 100 years are truly remarkable and unforgettable in the history of the Chinese nation.
The past 100 years have witnessed the continuous development and growth of the CPC from a small and weak force to a large and strong one. Since its founding on July 1st, 1921, the CPC has been committed to fulfilling its original aspiration and mission, unremittingly striving to achieve national independence and people's liberation, ceaselessly struggling to realize China's prosperity and people's happiness, adding an impressive and glorious chapter in the history of Chinese nation and human development. Countless communists have struggled, fought and sacrificed their lives, making significant contributions to the Chinese revolution and the building of China.
The CPC always puts the people at the very center of its hearts and therefore is fully endorsed by its people. After a century of ups and downs, the CPC has been constantly growing and developing. It has grown from a small party with only around 50 members to the largest party in the world with more than 95 million members. It has grown from a young political force dedicated to saving the country and the people to the world's largest ruling party with rich experience which has been in power for 72 years.
The past 100 years have completely transformed the fate and future of China and the Chinese nation. For the past century, the CPC has been working to combine the basic principles of Marxism with China's practical realities and make constant theoretical and practical innovations. In the past century, the CPC rallied the Chinese people and led them in an arduous struggle, toppled the three great mountains of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucrat-capitalism that were oppressing the Chinese people, established the People's Republic of China, carried out socialist revolution, established socialism as China's basic system, advanced socialist construction, launched reform and opening-up and blazed a new path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the Party's Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has comprehensively promoted the new development philosophy, fostered new development paradigm, and modernized the state governance system and capacity. The Party and the country have made historic achievements, and socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered in a new era. Thus, the Chinese nation has saw a great leap from standing up to become much richer and stronger. History has fully proved that the leadership of the CPC is a correct choice made by history and the Chinese people, and CPC's leadership has completely ensured the Chinese nation to be reborn from the ashes.
The past 100 years have witnessed tremendous changes in China. Under the strong leadership of the CPC and through the hard work of all Chinese people, China has already become the largest industrial country, the biggest trader in goods and the second largest economy. China now has put in place the world's biggest systems of education, social security, medical care and community-based institutions of democracy. We are extremely proud of our technological achievements such as "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project, hybrid rice, manned spaceflight, deep-sea exploration and Comac C919 aircraft. It is also encouraging and heartening when we hear good news about our national projects such as Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Three Gorges Dam, South-North Water Transfer, West-East Gas Pipeline and Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. China has won a comprehensive victory in the fight against extreme poverty and its per capita national income exceeded 10,000 US dollars. China, a prosperous and ever-changing major country, continues to present to the world its speed, innovation, wisdom, power and splendor.
The CPC is the backbone of the Chinese people and the anchor of China's diplomacy. The pursuit of happiness for the people and of great renewal of the nation is the original aspiration of the Party. It determines the responsibilities and duties of China's diplomacy.China has always been an advocate of world peace, a contributor to global development and a defender of the international order. We are willing to expand friendly cooperation with other countries and promote the building of a new model of international relations with win-win cooperation at the core and the building of a global community of shared future.
This year coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Iceland. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we have continuously advanced our bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect, equal treatment, and seeking common ground while reserving differences. The current Sino-Icelandic relations are facing new opportunities and challenges. China is willing to work with the Icelandic side to deepen pragmatic cooperation and promote exchanges based on the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples. Moreover, China will spare no efforts to expand our cooperation on major international issues such as climate change, environmental protection and the fight against COVID-19, thus adding a new chapter in the development of bilateral relations.
The development of China as well as the Sino-Icelandic relations has received mass support from the overseas Chinese living in Iceland and Icelandic friends from all walks of life. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to you all!
Looking back at the 100-year history of the CPC, we are full of pride. And looking ahead to the bright future of China, we are full of confidence. The CPC is dedicated to the long-term cause of the Chinese nation. It is right in its prime at its centenary. I believe that, under the leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people will unite as one with a shared purpose and rely on their own efforts with unfailing perseverance. I believe that, by the middle of the 21st century, the great goal of developing China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful will definitely come true. I believe that, the Chinese dream of great national rejuvenation will definitely come true, and China will make even greater contributions to the progress of mankind.
Thank you!
Jin Zhijian
Chinese Ambassador to Iceland