National Day Message by Address by H. E. Mr. Dong Xiaojun, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Bulgaria

Dear ladies and gentlemen, dear friends!

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, I would like to warmly welcome all the friends who joined us online on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

During these 71 years since the founding of China, the achievements of China's economic and social development have attracted the attention of the whole world. China's GDP, from $ 12.3 billion in the first days increased to $ 14.4 trillion in 2019, an increase of more than 1,170 times.

The total foreign trade increased from $ 1.13 billion in the first days to $ 4.62 trillion in 2019, an increase of 4,088 times. China, from an extremely poor and backward agricultural country, became the world's second largest economy, the largest producer, the country with the largest trade and the largest foreign exchange reserves.

The quality of life of the Chinese people has improved significantly in these 71 years. From 1949 to 2019, GDP per capita increased from $ 23 to $ 10,276, an increase of approximately 447 times. Life expectancy of the population moved from 35 to 77 years. Over the past 40 years of reform and opening up, China has successfully lifted 700 million people out of poverty. This year, it will be able to achieve its ambitious goal of comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and completely free itself from poverty.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

If we want to find a keyword for 2020, it will certainly be the epidemic of the new coronavirus. Under the wise leadership of the party and the government, the Chinese people united and fought a battle to prevent and control it. It was a people's war, through which the epidemic was effectively controlled and the Chinese economy recovered. In the second quarter of this year, China's GDP grew by 3.2% on an annual basis, making it the first economy in the world to resume positive growth, as well as the only one for which Moody's raised its annual economic growth forecast. The recovery of the Chinese economic growth contributes to the recovery of the world economy, brings confidence in its growth and positive expectations.

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

China and Bulgaria, as well as their people, are linked by a deep traditional friendship. Bulgaria is the second country to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with China. In a few days we will celebrate the 71st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria.

Since their establishment, the Chinese-Bulgarian relations have developed smoothly on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. In 2019, President Rumen Radev paid a successful state visit to China. Together with President Xi Jinping, they jointly announced the elevation of our bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership, and thus entered a new stage of development.

On September 3rd, at a forum marking the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War against the Japanese aggression and the victory in the anti-fascist world war, President Xi Jinping stressed in his speech that the Chinese people will never forget the peaceful and just countries and nations, the international anti-fascist organisations in the world, that provided invaluable help and support. He specifically mentioned that a large number of anti-fascist fighters from Bulgaria and other countries had participated directly in the Chinese resistance against Japanese aggression and reiterated that their touching deeds and noble character would forever remain in the hearts of the Chinese people. Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, I would like to express my high respect to the Bulgarian Dr. Yanto Caneti for his contribution to China's victory in the war against Japanese aggression.

In 2020, in the fight against the epidemic, China and Bulgaria support and help each other, this is a new chapter in the development of our bilateral relations. The epidemic causes certain difficulties for our exchange in different areas, but I firmly believe that there is no winter that does not end, so I am convinced that pragmatic cooperation in different areas between China and Bulgaria will have a brighter spring. Let's look forward to it together!

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations. On September 21, at a videoconference summit to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, President Xi Jinping said that the world has so many big problems that global challenges are growing every day. They should and can only be resolved through dialogue and cooperation. International issues must be resolved through consultations between all of us. The understanding that we are all in the same boat is now a popular consensus in the global community.

The UN has stood a trial after this test and has emerged with new strength and dynamism. The UN embodies the aspirations of more than seven billion people for a better life, and the UN Charter remains an important guarantee of world peace and development. No country has the right to dominate global affairs, to control the fate of others, or to keep the benefits of development entirely to itself. Even less should it be allowed to do what it pleases and be a hegemon, rude, or a master of the world. Unilateralism is a dead end. Everyone should follow the approach of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. All must unite to maintain universal security, share the fruits of development and decide together the future of the world.

President Xi Jinping stressed that what we need to do is replace conflict with dialogue, coercion with consultation and zero amount with a winning one. We must pursue the common interests of all, instead of each of us working only to protect our own interests. We need to expand our common ground and build a great global family of harmony and cooperation.

The President stressed that China will continue to be a true follower of multilateralism. China will continue to play an active role in reforming and developing the global system of governance. China will stand firm for the UN-centered international system, firmly uphold the international order based on international law, and firmly defend the UN's central role in international affairs.

Dear friends,

Today coincides with the important traditional holiday of China - Mid-Autumn. It is associated with family reunion, symbolising harmony and unity. I sincerely wish all Bulgarian friends, the Chinese diaspora, representatives of Chinese companies and institutions, as well as Chinese students in Bulgaria, a happy holiday!

Finally, let's wish together:

Prosperity for the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Bulgaria!

An even better future for Chinese-Bulgarian relations!

Good health to all!

Thank you!

The material was provided by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Bulgaria.