Remarks on 59^th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China

尊敬的黄徐毓芳议员、夏波斯议员，奥克兰大区议会麦克·李主席，怀特克里市哈维市长，哈乌拉奇区崔芝达市长，怀托莫区埃蒙市长，奥克兰领团长、美国驻奥克兰总领事戴斯罗特先生，新西兰中国团体联合会黄玮璋会长，屋仑华侨会所卢锡溪会长，

各位来宾，女士们、先生们：

Respected Mrs. Pansy Wong, Dr. Pita Sharples, Member of Parliament, Mr. Michael Lee, Chairman of Auckland Regional Council, Mr. Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere city, Mr. JP Tregidga, Mayor of Hauraki District, Mr. Mark Ammon, Mayor of Waitomo District, Mr. John Desrocher, Dean of Auckland Consular Corps & Consul General of the United States of America in Auckland, Mr. Steven Wong, Chairman of United Chinese Association of New Zealand, Mr. Arthur Loo, Chairman of Auckland Chinese Community Center

Distinguished guests, Ladies and gentlemen,

晚上好！欢迎大家与我们共庆中华人民共和国成立59周年。

Good evening! Welcome to join us celebrating the 59^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

今年是中国改革开放30周年。中国成功实现了从高度集中的计划经济体制到充满活力的社会主义市场经济体制、从封闭半封闭状态到全方位对外开放的历史性转变。中国经济连续３０年保持高速增长，国内生产总值占全球的比重由１９７８年的１%上升到２００７年的５%以上，对外贸易总额占全球的比重由不足１%上升到８%左右。

This year marks the 30th anniversary of reform and opening-up in China. We have achieved the historic transition from a highly centralized planned economy to a vibrant socialist market economy and from a closed or semi-closed society to one that is fully open to the outside world. China has achieved 30 years of continued fast economic growth. Back in 1978, China's GDP accounted for only 1% of the world's total. By 2007, it was over 5%. China's share in global trade jumped from less than 1% to roughly 8% during this period.

2008年对中国、中新关系和中国与奥克兰地区关系的发展都是意义非凡、特别值得纪念的一年。

2008 is a memorable year for the development of China, relations between China and New Zealand, and the Auckland region in particular.

当中国面临雨雪冰冻灾害和汶川地震的挑战时，新西兰政府、企业、民众以及华人华侨和中国留学生踊跃捐赠，支援中国的抗震救灾，其中通过中国驻奥克兰总领馆捐赠的钱物总额就达300万新元。在此，我要对积极支援灾区的朋友们表示衷心的感谢！

When China met with the challenges from the heavy snow disaster and the Wenchuan earthquake, the New Zealand government and the Kiwi people, the Chinese communities and Chinese students here made enthusiastic donations to support China’s relief work. The donations made through the Consulate General reached the amount of 3 million NZ dollars. Here, I would once again express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have helped us greatly.

中国成功举办了北京奥运会和残奥会，实现了百年奥运梦想，进一步加深了中国人民与世界人民，尤其是中新两国人民的相互理解与友谊。在举办北京奥运会的过程中，我们得到了新西兰友人、华人华侨的大力支持，我要对你们给予我们的支持表示感谢。

The successful holding of the Beijing Olympic Games realized a century-long Olympic dream of China, and greatly enhanced the friendship and mutual understanding between the people of China and of the world, and especially between China and New Zealand. In the process of preparing for the Games, the New Zealand people and the Chinese communities here gave us great assistance and I would like to thank you for your valuable support.

今年台湾海峡两岸交流合作处在新的历史起点，两岸关系逐渐步入了和平发展的轨道，给两岸同胞带来了切实的利益。

The exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits have entered a new historical point and relations across the Straits are moving in the direction of peaceful development, which brings practical benefits to the people across the Straits.

中国保持了经济社会平稳较快发展的良好局面。上半年，中国国内生产总值同比增长10.4%。4天前，中国成功发射“神舟”七号，中国航天员首次实施空间出舱活动，中国载人航天事业实现新的跨越。

China maintains fast yet steady social and economic development with a year-on-year GDP growth of 10.4%. Four days ago, the successful launch of Shenzhou 7, and the Chinese astronauts’ first ever walk in the space activities, symbolized a new step forward for China’s manned spacecraft program.

当前中国的发展拥有良好机遇，同时也面临不少困难和挑战，经济社会还存在许多不容忽视的问题。但中国所遭遇的困难是发展过程中的困难，中国完全有信心、有能力克服前进道路上遇到的各种困难和问题，以自身的发展促进世界的和平与发展。

There are good opportunities as well as many difficulties and challenges with China’s development, and there are many economic and social issues that call for our attention. However, all these are difficulties that have occurred in the course of our development. China has full confidence and capability to overcome various difficulties in the way forward, and promote the world’s peace and development through our own development.

中新建交36年来，各领域交流与合作不断扩大。新西兰是第一个与中国签署关于中国加入世界贸易组织双边协议、第一个承认中国完全市场经济地位、第一个与中国启动双边自贸区协定谈判的国家。今年4月，新西兰实现了对华关系上的第四个第一，成为第一个与中国签署自由贸易协定的发达国家。

During the 36 years since China and New Zealand established diplomatic relations, exchanges and cooperation in various fields have been constantly strengthened between the two countries. New Zealand was the first western nation to reach a bilateral deal with China on its accession to the WTO, to recognize China's full market economy status, and to initiate negotiation on bilateral free trade agreement. This April, New Zealand became the first developed country to sign Free Trade Agreement with China.

中国与奥克兰地区的友好交往也更加密切，我们愿与各位一道继续为中国与奥克兰地区人民的友谊做出努力。

China and Auckland region enjoyed closer friendly exchanges and we would like to make efforts for friendship between China and Auckland region together with you.

最后，让我们为中新两国的繁荣和发展，为中国人民与奥克兰地区人民友谊的进一步发展，为各位来宾的健康，干杯！

Finally, let me propose a toast for the prosperity and development of China and New Zealand, for further development of friendship between the Chinese people and the people of Auckland region, and for the health of every one here! Cheers!