Director of Education Affairs in the Great Bahri District Mrs. Badriah,

School Principal of China-Sudan Friendship Girls' Primary School Mrs.Souad,

Teachers and students,

Good morning.

It gives me great pleasure to join teachers and students here at the opening ceremony of the multimedia classroom at the China-Sudan friendship girls’ primary school. Putting the classroom into use demonstrates once again the deep friendship between our two nations.

As we know, both China and Sudan are time-honored civilizations. China is home to the Great Wall, and Sudan has its own miniature pyramids. The Yangtze River and the Yellow River give birth to the Chinese civilization, while the Blue and White Niles are the cradle of the Sudanese civilization. These historical sites and rivers are the witness of the thousand-year-old history of the two civilizations.

From ancient times China and Sudan have been good comrades, partners and friends with long-lasting friendly exchanges between the peoples. More than six centuries ago, Zheng He, the Chinese navigator of the Ming Dynasty, once led a voyage to the port of Suakin of Sudan, bringing here exquisite silk and porcelain products from China. 136 years ago, it was by the anti-British forces led by Sudan’s national hero Mahdi that the British colonial governor Gordon who had committed heinous crimes in China was beheaded, getting his just deserts.

Since China and Sudan established diplomatic relations in 1959, the two peoples have maintained closer ties with each other, writing an exemplary story of mutual assistance and mutual learning. We will never forget it was African countries including Sudan that carried the People’s Republic of China into the United Nations five decades ago, thus helping the People’s Republic of China restore its lawful seat in the United Nations. I believe the people of Sudan will keep in mind those livelihood projects built with China’s assistance, such as the China-Sudan Friendship Hall, the friendship hospitals, and the Sudan Acrobatic Troupe. These projects speak volumes about our sincere friendship. As the baton of bilateral friendship has been passed to our generation, I am convinced that the opening of the multimedia classroom at the China-Sudan friendship girls’ primary school will make a new contribution to China-Sudan friendship.

Education is of prime importance. The Sudanese nation is a nation keen to learn, and youths represent the future and hope of Sudan. I hope that students will make best use of this multimedia classroom to acquire knowledge and skills and learn more about China and the world. The Chinese Embassy in Sudan will continue to provide assistance for the school and expect students to come to China for study and exchanges in the future. Students are encouraged to study well so that you could become the backbone of your country and act as envoys to carry forward our traditional friendship.

As we will usher in the new year in just a few days, I wish all of you a very Happy New Year, good health, and good luck on studies.

Thank you.