Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Good morning! Warm welcome to the National Day Reception of the Chinese Embassy and my farewell reception!
The rampaging COVID-19 pandemic has brought big changes to our ways of life and work. For the health and safety of our friends, and in compliance with the MCO SOP by the Malaysian Government, this year the Chinese embassy decided to host this online reception to celebrate our National Day. My gratitude goes to all the guests and friends who are online at this moment, celebrating the 71st anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China with us.
2020 is a very special year. At its very beginning, China was first hit by COVID-19. Facing the formidable challenges, the Chinese government and people stood as one and went all out to save every life there was to save. In just 2 months, the daily confirmed cases decreased to one-digit level from thousands a day. And in just 3 months, there were no more new cases in the epicenter, Hubei Province and Wuhan city, which marked the moment of triumph for China’s fight against COVID-19.
From then on, China started to resume work, and people get back to their normal life gradually. To our delight, China has achieved a 3.2% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2020, which practically makes China the first major economy in the world to get back on the track of economic recovery. If we compare the pandemic to a big test, then the Chinese government has withstood the test with its strong leadership and the mass mobilization ability; the Chinese people has withstood the test with our indomitable and unyielding national spirit, as well as our courage and willingness to sacrifice for the greater good.
Of course, these accomplishments would not possible without the solid foundation China has laid through its 71-year development. In the past 71 years, China has never stopped reforming and innovating, and blazed its trail in good governance that suits our own conditions. China has established a full-fledged national economy system and a mature industry chain from the ruins of war, and greatly strengthened the resilience of our economy and society. China has raised to the ranks of great technology powers with nothing but our bare hands to start with, which is the reason why our hands are holding the weapon against the pandemic that we need, when we need it.
While we are keeping the pandemic in check within our borders, China never hesitates to cooperate with others in this common fight for all humanity. We shared information with the WHO as fast as we can, we shared our experience in disease control and treatment as often as we can, and we contributed funds and medical supplies to the international community as much as we can.
In his speech to the 73rd session of the World Health Assembly in May, Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that China will make its coronavirus vaccine a global public good once available. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said that China will prioritize Southeast Asian countries in distributing COVID-19 vaccine at the recent China-ASEAN foreign ministers’ video conference. In Malaysia, I am doing my best to carry out to the fullest our leader’s views and concept on the global battle against COVID-19, which is themed “solidarity and cooperation”.
In the past 10 months, there was a time when the pandemic hit China the hardest, and there was a time when COVID-19 reached its peak in Malaysia. However, China and Malaysia shared weal and woe, and conquered the hardship together. Now face masks and clinical gloves are the new tokens of friendship between us. What’s more, we are glad to see growth in Chinese investment in Malaysia and Malaysia’s export to China in the first half of 2020, disregarding the overall downward pressures in the world economy. This proves once again the complementariness and the bright prospect of our bilateral cooperation.
Going forward, China will work together with Malaysia and enhance our cooperation in vaccine development and resumption of production. We will continue to fight the battle of pandemic control and economy recovery side by side. We will fight as one, until we win as one. China also looks forward to collaborating with all countries including Malaysia, to promote international solidarity and cooperation, to uphold the multilateralism and international justice. Together we can put an end to regional conflicts and global issues. Together we can revive the global economy back to growth and prosperity. Together we can build a better future for humankind.
Next please allow me to say the following in Chinese：
今天除了是中国国庆之外，还是中华民族传统节日中秋节。因为疫情，今年的中秋节显得格外特别，很多朋友可能无法与亲人团聚。借此机会，我向所有在马中国同胞，以及马来西亚的华人华侨们致以节日的问候，祝大家“但愿人长久，千里共婵娟”。我还要特别和在马的中国公民说一句，不论你身在何处，使馆永远是你们的家。
Ladies and gentlemen,
For myself, 2020 is also a special year because I will soon conclude my term and return to China. Just like every Chinese ambassador before me, promoting China-Malaysia friendly cooperation is my sole, lofty mission. In the past 3 years, we have faced many challenges, like dramatic changes in Malaysia’s domestic politics and COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, however the situation changes, China-Malaysia friendship and cooperation remain unchanged.
The mutual trust between China and Malaysia has become stronger, the prospect of our cooperation has become broader, the quality of our cooperation has become higher, and the resilience of our bilateral ties has become tougher. We are now having more friends in Malaysia from all walks of life. Our bilateral economic cooperation has been gradually expanded from the lower industry chain of manufacture, trade of primary products, and contract construction to the high-end electronics, biomedicine and green energy.
Our bilateral trade volume, Chinese investment in Malaysia and the number of Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia keep rising to new heights year by year. Our cooperation in science, education, culture, defense and other areas has all borne fruitful results. As the one who has witnessed and experienced these positive developments and the one who has shed a lot of sweat for them, I may tell myself that: Yes, you have fulfilled the duty and lived up to the expectations of many.
As a diplomat, I live a life of coming and going, meeting new people and bidding old friends farewell. I am going home in a few weeks time, but my heart will stay here. I will remember how the waving Malaysian flags and gorgeous parades overwhelm the Merdeka square with pride and joy in the face of the Malaysian people on Merdeka Day; I will remember how the Petronas twin towers gleam with brilliance under the high noon sun; I will remember how the traffic never rests on the North-South Expressway, how the smiles of Malaysian children warm my heart like a summer’s day. I will remember Malaysia by its melodic, emotive Malay Pantun full of wisdom; by its ravishing islands with sun, sand and sea; by its unique charm of different religions, races and cultures living in harmony.
But there’s more to remember. I will remember the high expectations for China-Malaysia cooperation from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin, Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin and so many other cabinet ministers. I will remember the scene where Chinese and Malaysian engineers toil together shoulder by shoulder on ECRL. I will remember the excitement in my heart when the first cargo of frozen wholefruit Musang King departed to China. I will remember how the giant Pandas Xingxing and Liangliang in Zoo Negara won the affection from Malaysian Children.
With the COVID-19 rampaging from the beginning of this year, I’ve got a few more sights to remember: the sight that Malaysian friends from all walks of life were donating funds and supplies to China when the COVID-19 hit Wuhan in January and February; the sight that Malaysian friends were chanting “Wuhan Stay Strong” ; the resolute faith of “Malaysia boleh” in the eyes of the doctors and nurses of Hospital of Kuala Lumpur and Hospital Sungai Buloh, when I handed over the much needed face masks and PPEs to them in March and April. And there is one more thing what I will never, never forget , which is the Malay proverb that I have repeated countless times : bukit sama didaki, lurah sama dituruni --A vivid testimony of the profound friendship between two true friends who always come to help each other in times of need.
As the saying goes--not everything that counts can be counted. It is impossible for me to recollect all the precious moments and memories I have had with Malaysia in the last years or so, in merely a few-minute-long speech. But I will take them all with me back to China, leaving just my sincere gratitude and best wishes with my Malaysia friends.
I wish to thank all Malaysian friends for your support to me and to the Chinese Embassy. I hope you could support my successor in the same way and push China-Malaysia relations to new heights. I also want to thank my colleagues from the Chinese embassy for your devotion and hard work in supporting me in carrying out the solemn mission as Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia.
As for wishes, I would like to wish Malaysia political stability and social harmony in the coming years. I hope Malaysian people could accomplish more achievements in nation-building and once again let the world hear the roar of the Tiger of Asia. I wish China and Malaysia could carry on the close mutual trust and the mutually beneficial cooperation. I wish united and working together we will create a better future for our two peoples.
To conclude, I would like to wish my motherland a happy 71st birthday. I would also like to wish for a brighter and prosperous future for Malaysia, an everlasting friendship between China and Malaysia and between our two peoples.
China Boleh! Malaysia Boleh!
Thank you all.