Increase Mutual Understanding, Promote Cooperation and Pursue Shared Development

--Keynote Speech by Ambassador Gui Congyou at "China Day" at Almedalen Week

尊敬的各位嘉宾、朋友们：

　　感谢瑞典中国商会的邀请，欢迎大家出席“中国日”活动。

Distinguished guests and dear friends,

First let me thank the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sweden for the invitation. Welcome to the "China Day".

　　随着中国的发展和中瑞交往的不断深化，瑞典民众更加渴望了解中国。举办像今天这样的“中国日”活动，双方积极开展对话交流，不断增进彼此客观认知，尤为重要。观察中国，不能用望远镜，也不能用放大镜，更不能戴着有色眼镜，而要用自己的眼睛，带着开放的心态，认识一个真实、立体、全面的中国。今天瑞典中国商会举办的“中国日”活动就是为瑞典各界提供一个窗口，增进对中国的了解，扩大共识，推动合作。

With the development of China and deepening exchanges between China and Sweden, the Swedish public is more interested to learn more about China. With a "China Day" event like this, the two sides can conduct dialogues and communication to increase objective mutual understanding. This is particularly important. To observe China, one cannot use binoculars or magnifying glasses, still less should one use colored glasses, rather one needs to see China with his or her own eyes and an open mind, and see a real, multifaceted and complete China. Today's "China Day" event is to provide friends from all sectors in Sweden a window to know more about China, build greater common grounds and facilitate cooperation.

　　中国的发展不仅是经济增长，更是全方位发展。中国社会全面进步，近8亿人脱贫，建成世界上规模最大的全民医疗保险体系和社会保障制度，实现9年义务教育全覆盖。居民收入年均增长7.4%，形成世界上最大的中等收入群体。我们大力推进社会主义民主政治建设，不断发展完善协商民主制度，充分保障人民广泛、充实的权利和自由。

China's development is not just about economic growth, but an all-round social development of the country. The all-round development of China helped to lift nearly 800 million people out of poverty. The largest universal health care and social security systems in the world were built, and nine-year free education now covers every student. Per capita income grew at an average annual rate of 7.4%, creating the largest middle-income group in the world. We work to build socialist democracy, develop and improve consultative democracy, and fully protect the extensive and tangible rights and freedoms of the people.

　　中国的发展不仅是国力增强，更是和平发展。中国没有对外扩张的基因，没有主动挑起过任何战争和冲突，没有侵占别人一寸土地。中国的发展不会对任何国家构成威胁。

　　中国的发展不仅是自身发展，更是与世界共同发展。中国经济增长连续多年对世界经济的贡献率超过30%，成为世界经济增长的主要稳定器和动力源，在推动实现联合国2030年可持续发展目标中起到了关键作用。中国提出共建“一带一路”倡议，以加强互联互通为核心，为促进各国发展动员了更多资源，开辟了更广市场，释放更多动力，得到国际社会的普遍欢迎和支持。

China's development is not just about national strength, but about peaceful development. Expansion is not in China's DNA. China has never started a war or conflict, and never invaded one inch of territory of other countries. China's development will not pose any threat to any country.

China's development is not just the development of itself, but development together with the world. China's economic growth has been contributing over 30% to global growth for many years in a row, making itself an anchor and engine for global growth and a key contributor to the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the UN. China has been actively pursuing the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative, with a central goal to strengthens interconnectivity, which mobilizes more resources, opens more market room and unleashed more dynamism for the development of countries along the route. The initiative is widely welcomed and supported by the international community.