Your Excellency Ms. Tytti Tupurainen, Minister for European Affairs of Finland,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Good Afternoon!

Today, as we gather together on this joyful occasion to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, I would like to extend my warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to all of you for coming!

China is an ancient civilization with splendid culture of more than five thousand years. The founding of the People's Republic of China on the first day of October 1949, opened a brand new journey of hope for China.

Over the past seventy years, the Chinese people have forged ahead against all difficulties to make remarkable achievements. In a short span of decades, we completed industrialization which took developed countries several centuries, and transformed China from a poor and weak country into the world’s second largest economy. China’s GDP has grown by more than 450 times. Its per capita gross national income has increased by 135 times. The average life expectancy has gone up from 35 to 77. Over 700 million people have been lifted out of poverty. China has contributed more than 30% to world economic growth. The Chinese nation has achieved a historical leap from standing up to becoming prosperous and strong.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

The 70 years’ glorious history has told us that, the dream of the Chinese people is closely connected with the dreams of the people of other countries, and that China’s future and destiny are closely linked to the future and destiny of the world. China’s development brings more opportunities to the world than threats and challenges.

Nowadays, the world is moving further towards multi-polarity, economic globalization, cultural diversity and society informatization. At the same time, protectionism and unilateralism continue to spread. The international situation becomes more uncertain and instable, and global challenges are more severe.

No matter how the situation may change, China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development. China never pursues benefits at the expense of others, never seeks hegemony, and opposes any attempt by any one to do so. China is committed to win-win cooperation, deepening all-round opening up, sharing opportunities with all countries that sincerely support China’s development, and promoting Belt and Road cooperation. As President Xi Jinping points out, isolation would lead us nowhere, while openness would offer us infinite possibilities. China sincerely embraces the world and pursues shared commitment to peaceful development.

Of course, China cannot develop without a stable and predictable international environment. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and key member of G20, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and other multilateral institutions, China is committed to shoulder greater international responsibilities, engage in global governance, make globalization more inclusive and beneficial to all, and uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core as well as the multilateral trading system centering on the World Trade Organization. China will firmly defend multilateralism, and promote the building of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation and a community with a shared future for mankind.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Finland was among the first western countries to establish diplomatic relations with New China, and also the first western country to sign intergovernmental trade agreement with China. In fact, Finland is a good friend and partner who has accompanied and witnessed the development of New China. The two countries have always adhered to the spirit of mutual respect, equality and win-win cooperation. Sino-Finnish relations have grown to be a model of peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between countries with different histories, cultures, social systems and stages of development.

In recent years, under the strategic leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Niinistö, China and Finland have established the future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership. The two sides enjoy close high-level exchanges, stable political trust, and wider pragmatic cooperation in various fields. China has become Finland’s largest trading partner in Asia for sixteen consecutive years. New highlights of cooperation have emerged in the fields of new technologies, clean energy and bio-economy. The two sides maintain close communication and coordination in addressing climate change, promoting sustainable development, and safeguarding free trade. This year is the “China-Finland Year of Winter Sports”. We will hold nearly seventy activities, and work together to support the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. China also attaches great importance to Finland’s role as an important member and rotating presidency of the EU, and is ready to make joint efforts with Finland to promote the sound and stable development of China-EU relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends,

Next year, China and Finland will celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic ties. The development of our bilateral relations will witness historical opportunities. China is ready to work with Finland to continue to be partners of mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual learning and mutual benefit, to push for new and greater development of Sino-Finnish relations and cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

Now may I invite you to join me in a toast:

To the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China,

To the friendship and cooperation between the Chinese and Finnish people,

To the health and happiness of everyone present today,

Cheers!