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Remarks by Chinese Consul-General Huang Shifang in Kota Kinabalu at the 2022 National Day Celebration

(From Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu)

2022-09-27 00:10

Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Juhar Bin Haji Mahiruddin, Head of Sabah State, 
Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Hajah Norlidah Binti Datuk R. M. Jasni,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies, Gentlemen, and Friends:

Good morning, everyone!

It is a great pleasure to gather with all of you, to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of the People's Republic of China.  This is the first time, since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic that, the Consulate General has held a physical celebration of the National Day.  First, on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Kota Kinabalu, I would like to express my warm welcome and sincere gratitude to all the guests, especially to Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Haji Juhar, Head of Sabah State, Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Hajah Norlidah. We are greatly honored by your presence.

73 years ago, a new China stood in the east of the world.  Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people, with diligence and wisdom, have created a miracle of development, that has attracted worldwide attention and written the most magnificent epic in the history of the Chinese nation for thousands of years.  From being penniless and poor to the second largest economy in the world, from being shattered and devastated to building a moderately prosperous society, from being short of food and clothing, living in poverty to historically eliminating absolute poverty, from being illiterate and backward to achieving major scientific and technological innovations, China has leaped to become the world's largest industrial country, the largest goods trading country, and the largest foreign exchange reserve country.  China’s GDP exceeds 100 trillion RMB, the GDP per capita exceeds 10,000 USD, the urbanization rate exceeds 60%, and the middle-income group exceeds 400 million people.

Especially since this year, amid the complex international situation and the recurring pandemic, the Chinese government has scientifically coordinated the epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development.  In accordance with the general requirement of "controlling the epidemic, stabilizing the economy and ensuring the safety of development", China has put into practice a series of important reform measures such as stabilizing growth, promoting consumption and ensuring smooth traffic connection.  While achieving significant results in epidemic prevention and control, the economy has stabilized and rebounded, making a positive contribution to the recovery of the world economy.  Facing the unprecedented changes in a century, China will continue to extend the level of openness, share the benefits of openness with the world, and work together with others to create a better life with a common destiny and win-win cooperation.

Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen.

This year marks the 48th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia.  As the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic relations with China, Malaysia is China's close neighbor across the sea, a sincere friend, and a seamless partner in cooperation.  For nearly half a century, despite the changes in the international environment, China and Malaysia have always respected each other and walked side by side.  The strategic mutual trust between the two countries has become deeper, the areas of cooperation have been expanded, and the friendship between the two peoples has become stronger.  China has become Malaysia's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years and the largest source of foreign investment in Malaysia's manufacturing sector for 6 consecutive years.  In the battle against the pandemic, the two countries have taken practical actions, demonstrating the brotherhood of sharing hardships and sufferings.  From the government to the private sector, from institutions to individuals, the mutual assistance at all levels can be regarded as a model of international anti-epidemic cooperation.  The 40 million doses of vaccine supplied by China have also provided an important boost to Malaysia's national vaccination program.

Benefiting from the strengthened and deepened friendly relations between China and Malaysia, exchanges and cooperation between China and Sabah in various fields have also made great progress in recent years.  As an important node of the 21st century "Maritime Silk Road", Sabah is an ideal investment hotspot for Chinese enterprises, and its beautiful scenery, rich resources, harmonious society provide a good foundation and broad prospects for practical cooperation between the two places.  Nowadays, more and more Chinese enterprises are coming to Sabah for investment and business development, and the cooperation fields are expanding from tourism and infrastructure to high-end manufacturing industries.  With the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and ASEAN, and the official entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), riding on the wave of Global Development Initiative and the Belt and Road Initiative, I believe that the future of exchanges and cooperation between China and Sabah will be even brighter.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Although I have been in Sabah for only 4 months, I have already been fascinated by this beautiful "Land Below the Wind" and have felt the warmth and sincerity of the people.  During this period, I have met with officials in Sabah and Labuan, some of whom are here today.  I have also had extensive contact with local business leaders, experts and scholars, industry elites, representatives of the Chinese community, and have visited many districts and divisions to have in-depth discussions and exchanges with the district officers.  My colleagues and I will spare no efforts to promote the exchanges and cooperation between China and Sabah-Labuan in all sectors, and to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two places.  I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to all friends from all walks of life in Sabah-Labuan who are concerned about China's development, and support China-Malaysia friendship and China-Sabah exchanges and cooperation.  I would like to thank the Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Haji Juhar, Head of Sabah State, and Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji, Chief Minister of Sabah, and the Sabah State Government for attaching great importance to and actively supporting the development of relations with China.  It is the joint efforts of all of you that have come together to promote the leapfrog development of China-Sabah friendship and cooperation, which has yielded fruitful results.

Next month, the Communist Party of China will convene its 20th National Congress in Beijing.  It will be an important meeting to be held at a critical time as China embarks on a new journey toward its second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects. At this national congress, the Communist Party of China will fully review the major achievements made and valuable experience gained in China’s reform and development endeavors. It will also formulate programs of action and overarching policies to meet China’s new development goals on the journey ahead in the new era and the new expectations of the people. We will continue to follow the Chinese path to modernization to achieve the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and continue to contribute our vision and strength to world peace and development and human progress.

Lastly, let us wish China and Malaysia prosperity and the people's happiness and well-being!  May the friendship between China and Malaysia last forever, and the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Sabah achieve further success!

Thank you all!


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