Your Highness Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aleto’a Sualauvi II, Head of the State,
Honorable Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister,
Honorable Papali’i Li’o Taeu Masipau, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,
Afioga Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia, Council of Deputies,
Honorable Ministers and Members of Parliament,
Colleagues of Diplomatic Corps,
Representatives of Chinese community(中资机构和侨胞代表),
Ladies and Gentlemen, friends,
Talofa lava. Good evening! 晚上好！
Welcome to the Chinese Embassy. Tonight, we are gathered, to celebrate the Spring Festival of the year of the Dragon. In Dec. 2023, the UN General Assembly listed the lunar new year as the UN floating holiday. Happy Chinese New Year! 春节快乐！
Tonight, we are gathered, to officially launch the new Chinese embassy premises. My gratitude goes to my predecessor Ambassador Chao Xiaoliang, the project contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), and the Samoan Government and all friends, for your valued support to the grand landmark project.
Tonight is also for me to say a big thank-you, to the Samoan Government and people, for your warm welcome to me, as the 16th Chinese ambassador to Samoa.
During the past month since my arrival in Samoa, with great honour, I have paid courtesy calls on His Highness Head of the State, Honorable Prime Minister, Honorable Speaker and Honorable Ministers. I have also visited China-Aid projects, and talked with police officers, journalists, farmers and many others. I was overwhelmed by your shared sense of determination for development, sincerity for friendship with China, and confidence to further China-Samoa cooperation.
On this special occasion, may I use 3C words, to share with you wonderful moments of 2023, and look forward to promising future.
The first C is for “celebration”. While celebrating the spring festival, we also celebrate achievements of China and Samoa. In 2023, China made steady progress along the new journey of building a modern socialist country in all respects and promoting national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. China hosted the Third Belt and Road Forum for Int. Cooperation and more than 150 countries attended the forum. It was pointed out at the Central Meeting on Work Relating to Foreign Affairs that building a community with a shared future for mankind is the noble goal pursued by China in conducting major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics for the new era. China’s economy is expected to continue its upward trajectory following a strong 5.2% GDP growth in 2023, contributing more than 30% of global growth.
Samoa is embarking on the fast pace of post-COVID economic recovery. With remarkable increase in tourism, retail and catering, its GDP in the fourth quarter of 2022/2023 has grown 20.4% year on year, with positive growth for five consecutive quarters.
And congratulations, Samoa. Miss Samoa was crowned with Miss Pacific in Nauru, and the first runner-up title in Miss Global Contest in Cambodia. A round of applause please, would you join me?
The second C is for “commitment”. The new Chinese embassy premises demonstrates China’s firm commitment to its good brotherly relations with Samoa. It will serve as a high quality platform for our comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development. In 2023, we have tied up friendship via high-level exchanges, mutually beneficial cooperation and heart to heart exchanges. Hon. Speaker, Hon. Chief Justice and two Minister visited China with success. China-Aid projects, like Samoa-China Agricultural Technical Assistance Project (SCATAP), China medical team, the police academy Project, are undergoing smoothly. The Confucius Institute, Chinese Government Scholarship and Shandong Arts Performance in Samoa further deepened our mutual understanding.
How distant China and Samoa are geographically, how close our brotherly relations are in hearts, before, now and forever.
The third C is for “continuity”. This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The next year celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Samoa. I’m fortunate to witness these special moments, and shall dedicate myself to building a community with a shared future for China and Samoa.
China will continue its cooperation with Samoa in fields of agriculture, fishery, climate change, education, health and more, for tangible benefits to our two beloved peoples. I’m also calling all Chinese institutions and citizens in Samoa to continue their roles as bridges and make new contributions to China-Samoa relations.
Ladies and gentlemen, The dragon means bravery, wisdom, diligence, pioneering and good luck in Chinese culture. On this festival moment, may I propose a toast:
To the prosperity of our two countries and peoples,
To the brighter future of China-Samoa relations,
To the health and happiness of all guests.
Fa’afetai. Thank you. 谢谢！
