Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Wu Xi at 2019 China-NZ Entrepreneurs Reception

尊敬的菲尔·戈夫市长，

尊敬的王磊会长，

各位来宾，各位朋友，

女士们、先生们：

　　很高兴出席今天的活动。首先，请允许我感谢王磊会长和新西兰中国商会为筹办首届中新工商界研讨会和招待会所付出的辛勤努力。我也愿借此机会，感谢在座的各位多年来为推动中新经贸合作做出的贡献。

Hon Mayor Phil Goff

Mr Wang Lei, Chairman of CCCNZ 

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:

It's a great pleasure to join you today.

First, I want to thank Chairman Wang Lei and his team for all their hard work in making the first China-NZ Entrepreneurs Conference a reality. I also would like to thank all of you for your dedication to China-NZ relations, and wish the Conference great success.

　　2019年留给我们很多美好的回忆。虽然国际和地区形势发生深刻复杂变化，但中新关系始终稳步前进，实现合作共赢。今年4月，新西兰总理阿德恩首次对中国进行正式访问，两国领导人达成重要共识，为中新全面战略伙伴关系进一步发展注入了新的动力。2019年是“中国—新西兰旅游年”，我们成功举办了一系列丰富多彩的活动，扩大了双方旅游合作，促进了人文交流。我们结束了中新自由贸易协定升级谈判，以及《区域全面经济伙伴关系协定》文本和市场准入的谈判。这些重要成果体现了中新双方坚持自由和开放贸易，支持以规则为基础的多边贸易体制。我们共建“一带一路”取得了积极进展。中新双边贸易额突破300亿新元。新西兰企业积极参加第二届中国国际进口博览会，喜获丰收。新西兰在中国市场发挥着越来越积极的作用。

The year is fast coming to an end, leaving us with many good memories. Regardless of how the international and regional situations have changed, we can look back on 2019 as a time of strengthening bilateral relations, and increasing common interests of peace, stability and development.

I'd like to mention a few of the highlights from the past year.

In April, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made her first official visit to China, which generated positive results and new energy for the development of the China NZ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

2019 is also the 'China – NZ Year of Tourism'. Events held in both countries successfully expanded tourism cooperation, as well as people to people exchanges between our two countries.

We have concluded negotiations to upgrade our bilateral FTA. 15 countries including China and NZ, concluded text and market access negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). These major success reflects the commitment of our two countries to adhere to free and open trade, and to support the rule-based, multilateral system.

We also made progress in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI); our two-way trade exceeded $30 billion, and many NZ companies who attended the 2nd China International Import Expo (CIIE) secured big contracts. It's encouraging to see more and more NZ entities playing an active and important role in the Chinese market.

　　中新建交47年来，新西兰已成为中国在西方世界中重要的伙伴。在我们为两国友好关系感到骄傲的同时，更应该总结中新关系取得成功的经验。中新关系之所以保持健康稳定发展，关键在于我们尊重彼此的发展道路和社会制度。

In the past 47 years since we established diplomatic ties, NZ has become China's closest partner in the western world. We should be proud of our friendship and understand how it has developed so successfully.

From my understanding, the strong and stable relationship that we enjoy today rests in large part on the respect we have for each other's paths, despite our differences in history, culture and social systems.

　　今年是新中国成立70周年，在中国发展历程中具有里程碑意义。回顾过去70年，中国人民在中国共产党领导下，摆脱了动荡、屈辱、贫穷的历史，迈入和平、繁荣、强大的新时代，中国实现了从站起来到富起来再到强起来的历史飞跃。这一切源自中国人民选择了中国特色社会主义道路。实践证明，中国特色社会主义道路是符合中国国情的正确道路。中国人民对此充满自信。

2019 has also been a milestone year for China, marking 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past seven decades, a prosperous, strong and peaceful China has emerged from a history marked by conflict,foreign humiliation and poverty. The development path ahead for China is socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The Chinese people are united and confident in the system we have chosen.