(September 27, 2022)
Your Excellency Dr. Jibril ibrahim, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning,
Your Excellency Ambassador Ali Yousuf, Secretary General of the Association of Arab-Chinese Friendship Societies,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Greetings to all. It is my great pleasure to have you at this joyful occasion to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Let me first extend, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Sudan, a warm welcome to all of you here and say a big thank-you to all the friends who have cared about the development of China and supported China-Sudan friendship. To the personnel of Chinese-funded companies and institutions, Chinese students and other Chinese nationals in Sudan, I wish you joy, success and happiness.
Despite dramatic changes in the world, justice will always prevail. It is in challenging times that one’s mettle is tested. Seventy-three years is quite brief in human history. Yet all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation have forged ahead with unity and achieved historic changes of our times.
Over the past 73 years, we have embarked on an innovative path of state system. That is socialism with Chinese characteristics. Politically, it is a new model featuring multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, and a Chinese-style democratic system focused on whole-process people’s democracy. Economically, it is a basic economic system that maintains the dominant role of public ownership while developing other forms of ownership and implements multiple modes of distribution with “to each according to their work” as the principal form. It is also a socialist market economy committed to the balance between a capable government and an efficient market. The Chinese path offers a new option for those nations who want to advance development while preserving their independence.
Over the past 73 years, we have travelled a path of prioritizing economic growth and improvement of people’s wellbeing. Taking a people-centric approach and bearing in mind economic development, China has implemented reform and opening-up and pursued development as the top priority in governance. Through unremitting efforts, China has realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We have brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China, lifting rural poor population of nearly 100 million out of poverty. Over the years, China’s economic strength has reached a new high. China is now the world’s second largest economy and largest manufacturer, with its GDP reaching 114.4 trillion yuan in 2021 and the per capita GDP surpassing US$12,000. The share of the Chinese economy in the global economic output has rose to over 18%. China has achieved the remarkable combination of rapid economic growth and long-term stability.
Over the past 73 years, we have found a path of invigorating China through science and technology. Leveraging the institutional advantage of our nationwide system for mobilizing resources, China has pooled all resources available for independent innovation and been ranked in the top 15 in the Global Innovation Index. Pillar industries, ranging from high-speed railways, third-generation nuclear power technology, manned spaceflight, Beidou Navigation Satellite System, to aircraft carriers and big aircraft development, have become new name cards of our country. Additionally, China has led the world in such new technologies as artificial intelligence, block chain, quantum communication and intelligent driving. The leap forward in China’s science and technology is a historic achievement.
Over the past 73 years, we have embarked on the path to strength through win-win cooperation. China’s diplomacy is underpinned by the commitment to a path of peaceful development. China will not seek hegemony even when it grows in strength. Embracing the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has been working with other countries to build a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and a global partnership network, practice the common values of humanity, and defend multilateralism underpinned by the UN system and the UN Charter-based international law. Also, China has taken active steps to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) which chart the way forward for addressing global issues and challenges and safeguarding the shared interests of the international community and humanity. These efforts open new horizons in the theories and practices of global governance and international relations. Through these initiatives and measures, China has made a positive contribution to upholding the sovereign independence of developing countries, ensuring world peace, security and development and defending international fairness and justice.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
2022 has seen a complex and fluid international environment fraught with risks and challenges. Despite many difficulties, we successfully hosted the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics earlier this year, drawing wide attention from abroad. The games contributed greatly to building international consensus among the people of all countries for peace, friendship, unity, cooperation, civilizational progress and a shared future.
Faced with rising complexity and uncertainty in the external environment, we have introduced in a timely way a series of policies conducive to economic and social stability and development, so as to keep the economy running stably. People’s livelihoods have been protected with robust and effective steps, and new progress has been made in achieving high-quality development. In the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 2.5% year on year, ranking in the front among the major economies of the world and remaining a primary driver for global growth.
Putting the people and their lives first, we have been constantly fine-tuning the response measures in light of the evolving epidemic situation and had effectively brought the epidemic under control. These efforts have provided strong protection for the life and health of the 1.4 billion Chinese people. In the meanwhile, we have provided badly needed assistance to other developing countries, offering 189 million doses of vaccines to 27 African countries including Sudan. This is China’s concrete measure to fulfill its solemn commitment to build a global community of health for all.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
To quote a Chinese saying, “With the rising tide and favorable wind, it is time to sail the ship and ride the waves.” 2022 is also an extraordinary year for China-Sudan relations. By overcoming various difficulties together, China and Sudan have stayed our course in enhancing solidarity and focusing on cooperation. Our strategic partnership has continued to grow against the headwinds and achieved new breakthroughs in various fields.
Our political mutual trust has been enhanced. Over the years, Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of Sudan’s Sovereign Council Burhan have exchanged letters several times to steer the course of bilateral relations. Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue Zhai Jun and Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Xue Bing paid a successful visit to Sudan respectively. They both reaffirmed during their visits that China always treats and maintains our bilateral relations with a strategic and long-term perspective, and despite changes in an evolving international environment, China-Sudan friendship will remain as strong as ever and the strategic consensus for carrying forward friendship and cooperation will remain unchanged.
Our mutual support has remained solid. In the face of the various forms of hegemonic and bullying practices, China and Sudan have stood with each other shoulder to shoulder. We have rendered mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns and pursued cooperation with no strings attached, showing our sincerity as true friends. Shortly after US House Speaker Pelosi’s provocative visit to China’s Taiwan region, Sudan’s Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq said in a statement that Sudan supports the one-China principle and backs China’s efforts to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity. China speaks highly of these remarks. China has also spoken up for Sudan at the UN Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council and other multilateral settings to uphold justice, opposing illegal interference and unilateral sanctions against Sudan and having foiled attempts to undermine Sudan’s sovereignty.
Our mutually beneficial cooperation has made new strides despite the headwinds. Facing the wide-ranging impacts of political turbulence in Sudan and the global COVID-19 pandemic, our two countries have achieved satisfactory progress in practical cooperation over the past years. The maternal and child health project successfully completed by the UNICEF with strong support of the Chinese government has benefited over 70,000 local residents in the West Darfur State. 30 export locomotives manufactured by CRRC Ziyang arrived in Sudan, and the total 34 locomotives are expected to be all delivered by the end of this year. With the Sudan-China express shipping service recently launched by Greenroad International Logistics, the voyage between China and Sudan ports is now shortened greatly. The China-aid slaughter house project was also advanced actively, as both sides are now in the final stage to finalize the design plan.
Our people-to-people ties have grown deeper. Even mountains and seas cannot distance our two peoples with common aspirations. New results have been achieved in our people-to-people and educational exchanges. Specifically, three local schools were built into friendship schools where China-Sudan friendship multimedia classrooms were set up. 14 trees symbolizing our enduring friendship were planted on campus. The Sudan Acrobatic Troupe, always hailed as the flower of China-Sudan friendship, now has access to much better training facilities, and the China-Sudan friendship multimedia center for the NUP has been put into use as scheduled. In addition, four “Chinese Ambassador’s Book Houses” were launched in the University of Khartoum and other three universities. As the Chinese Language Teaching Union in Sudan was founded, enthusiasm for Chinese culture will continue to grow on the promising land.
Our mutual assistance has been in a new chapter. China and Sudan always share weal and woe. In April, the Protocol of the Chinese Medical Assistance Team to Sudan was renewed, and the first batch of medical equipment donated by the Chinese government under the cooperation mechanism for pairing up Chinese and Sudanese hospitals was handed over to Sudan’s Federal Ministry of Health. In May, a batch of anti-epidemic supplies worth of 4.55 million yuan donated by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Sudan’s Sovereign Council and Ministry of Foreign Affairs was handed over to the Sudanese side. After Sudan was hit by flooding in August, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has sent messages of condolences to his counterpart Ali Al-Sadiq. In addition to US$300,000 in cash aid, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided 660 tents and 3,000 blankets. The Shanghai Sudan Pharmaceuticals Ltd donated to Sudan’s National Civil Defense Council 66 packs of antibiotics and antimalarials. Next the Chinese government will provide further assistance with the disaster reconstruction.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Friends,
Next month, the 20th National Congress of the CPC will be convened to draw the blueprint for the next stage of China’s development. As Sudan’s political transition and transformation is now entering a crucial phase, Sudan will open up new prospects for development. At this new historical starting point, China will continue to join hands with Sudan. With firm mutual support and win-win cooperation, we will carry forward our enduring friendship and share opportunities of our times.
We are convinced that as long as we poll together and never slacken in efforts, we will build great synergy and create a brighter future for bilateral relations. We are also confident that as long as the related parties in Sudan proceed from fundenmental interests of the nation and the people to seek common ground while shelving differences, Sudan will surely overcome challenges on the way forward and find a path of peaceful and stable development that accommodates the interests of all parties and suits its national conditions.
To conclude, may our great country enjoy prosperity.
May China and Sudan enjoy everlasting friendship.
May the rest of the world enjoy prosperity and people across the globe live in peace and harmony.
Thank you.