Keynote Speech by H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming at Bloomberg: A More Open China Heralds A More Beautiful Spring

Bloomberg's European Headquarters, London, 8 May 2018

尊敬的彭博欧洲总部主席考特齐亚兹先生，

女士们，先生们：

　　很高兴到访彭博欧洲总部。

　　今年是中国改革开放40周年。这是一个回顾与展望的重要年份。因此，我想借今天的机会，与大家谈谈中国改革开放的经验、中国进一步扩大开放的举措以及中英经济金融合作面临的机遇。

　　1978年，中国改革开放的伟大征程拉开序幕。从农村到城市，从试点到推广，从经济体制改革到全面深化改革，40年艰苦奋斗，40年砥砺前行，中国人民用智慧和勤劳的双手书写了世界发展史上的奇迹。正如习近平主席所说，“改革开放这场中国的第二次革命，不仅深刻改变了中国，也深刻影响了世界！”

Mr. Cotzias,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a real delight to join you at Bloomberg's new European Headquarters to talk about the economic and financial cooperation between China and the UK. 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up policy. It is an important year for us to look back to see how far China has come and look ahead to what the future holds for us.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you 

what China has learned from the reform and opening up, 

what measures we are going to take to open up wider to the world 

and what opportunities there are for China-UK economic and financial cooperation.

The great journey of reform and opening up began in 1978. For 40 years since then, the Chinese people have worked tirelessly and relentlessly to extend this policy from rural areas to cities, from pilot zones to the entire country, and from economic restructuring to deeper reforms across the board. With wisdom and diligence, China has created a miracle in the world history of development.

Just as President Xi said, "Reform and opening-up, which is China's second revolution, has not only profoundly changed the country but also greatly influenced the whole world."

　　一方面，改革开放推动中国经济社会发展取得历史性成就。改革开放40年是中国发生翻天覆的变化、综合国力迈上新台阶的40年，也是中国走向世界、世界走向中国的40年。1977年，中国GDP总量仅为1750亿美元，居世界第十位，占世界经济的比重仅为2%。2017年，中国GDP总量达12万亿美元，增长近68倍，占世界经济的比重升至15%左右，稳居世界第二大经济体。此外，中国还是第一大工业国、第一大货物贸易国、第一大外汇储备国。7亿人摆脱贫困，人民生活水平不断改善，世界上覆盖人口最多的社会保障体系基本建立，人民的幸福感、安全感、获得感显著提升。

On the one hand, reform and opening up has led to historic economic and social achievements in China.

The past 40 years saw China changing profoundly, growing in comprehensive national strength and becoming more integrated with the world. 

In 1977, China's GDP was only $175 billion, accounting for 2% of the world's total and ranking the tenth in the world.

In 2017, China's GDP was $12 trillion, increasing nearly 68 times, accounting for 15% of the world's total and making China the second largest economy in the world.

Moreover, China is now the world's largest industrial country, largest trader in goods and has the largest foreign exchange reserves. It has lifted over 700 million people out of poverty and improved the standard of living. It has established a basic social security system that covers the largest population in the world. Today, the Chinese people have a much higher happiness index and a stronger sense of security and achievements.