Remarks at the Reception Celebrating 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year

H.E. Gu Xiaojie

Consul General(Ambassadorial Rank)of the People's Republic of China in Sydney

各位来宾，各位朋友：

　　大家晚上好。很高兴同大家欢聚一堂，共同庆祝中国传统节日春节。再过几天，我们将告别代表忠诚勇敢的狗年，迎来象征富足安康的猪年。我谨代表中国驻悉尼总领馆，向大家致以最诚挚的新春祝福。

Distinguished guests, dear friends,

Good evening! I am very delighted to get together with you today to celebrate the traditional Chinese Spring Festival. In just a few days, we will bid farewell to the Year of the Dog that represents loyalty and courage, and usher in the Year of the Pig that symbolizes prosperity and well-being. On behalf of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Sydney, I would like to extend our most sincere New Year's greetings to you all.

　　在刚刚过去的一年里，中国经济社会发展取得了新成就。我们隆重庆祝中国改革开放40周年，坚定不移深化改革、扩大开放，保持经济运行在合理区间。2018年中国GDP达到90万亿元人民币（约13.28万亿美元），同比增长6.6%。中国人民生活水平持续改善，全年又有1000万农村贫困人口永远告别贫困。习近平主席在《告台湾同胞书》发表40周年纪念会上明确指出“祖国必须统一，也必然统一”的历史定论，提出探索“一国两制”的台湾方案和开展两岸民主协商的重要倡议，为未来两岸关系走向定下了新基调。

Over the past year, China has scored new achievements in its economic and social development. We celebrated the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. The national economy has performed within an appropriate range, and China's GDP has reached 90 trillion RMB (equivalent to approximately 13.28 trillion US Dollars) with an annual growth rate of 6.6%, the fastest among the world's top five economies. The Chinese people's living standards continued to improve, and another 10 million rural residents have been lifted out of poverty. At the recent gathering to commemorate the 40th anniversary of issuing the Message to Compatriots in Taiwan, Chinese President Xi Jinping made the historical conclusion that "The motherland must and will be reunited", and proposed to explore a Taiwan Solution under "One Country, Two systems" as well as the important initiative of carrying out democratic consultation across the Strait, setting a new tone for future development of the Cross-Strait relations.

　　在刚刚过去的一年里，中国特色大国外交展现了新气象。中国积极拓展与世界各国友好合作关系，深入参与全球治理，坚定支持多边主义，坚定维护以规则为基础的国际秩序。我们先后举办博鳌亚洲论坛年会、上海合作组织青岛峰会、中非合作论坛北京峰会、首届中国国际进口博览会四大主场外交活动，同各国一道推动构建人类命运共同体。中国积极推动共建“一带一路”，2018年又有60多个国家和国际组织与中国签署相关合作文件，使签署文件总数达到150多个。

Over the past year, China has made new progress in pursuing the major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. China has continued to develop friendly and cooperative relations with other countries, deeply engaged in global governance, firmly upheld multilateralism and unswervingly safeguarded the rule-based international order. With a view to promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, China has hosted four major diplomatic events including the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference, Shanghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit, the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Beijing Summit and the First China International Import Expo. In 2018, China has actively promoted the "Belt and Road" Initiative, and another 60-plus countries and international organizations signed the cooperation documents with China, raising the total number of such documents to over 150.