Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Good evening! I would like to welcome you all to today’s reception and join us in celebrating the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Over the past 92 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the PLA has achieved extraordinary feats for independence of the Chinese nation, liberation of the people and founding of the People’s Republic of China, and made remarkable contribution to defending national sovereignty, security and development interests. It deserves the name of the “Great Wall of steel” and represents a strong pillar for China’s economic development and social stability.

Into the new era, guided by Xi Jinping thought on strengthening the armed forces, the PLA has lived up to its name as the people’s army, and fostered even closer ties with the people. With fresh progress made in strengthening the armed forces, the PLA is developing to a world-class military and serves as a strong guarantee for the realization of the two centenary goals and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

China remains committed to the path of peaceful development and a defense policy that is defensive in nature. The PLA upholds the leadership of the CPC and socialism, firmly safeguards national sovereignty, territorial integrity and China’s overseas interests, and is dedicated to achieving reunification of the country. With full confidence and capabilities, it is ready to address various kinds of risks and challenges.

China has been fostering a favorable environment for its development by defending world peace, which is in turn enhanced by a more developed China. Following the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, the PLA has faithfully honored its international responsibilities and obligations and played an important role in the United Nations peacekeeping operations, escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and international humanitarian search and rescue operations. China is the biggest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and one of the main funding contributors of peacekeeping operations. Since 1990, China has dispatched over 39,000 troops to 24 UN peacekeeping operations, and 13 Chinese servicemen laid down their lives while on duty. Facts have proven that the PLA is always a staunch force for world peace, stability and justice.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Thanks to their painstaking efforts over the past seven decades, the Chinese people have blazed a socialist path with Chinese characteristics suited to China’s national conditions. It is our founding mission to pursue happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation and to contribute to human progress. China is committed to peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation with other countries, in a bid to jointly build a new model of international relations and a community with a shared future for mankind. China will open its arms wider to embrace the world, and share in development opportunities and enjoy common prosperity with other countries.

China will never develop itself at the cost of other countries. Neither will it allow others to undermine its core interests at will. China will never allow any person, organization or political party to separate even a single inch of its territory, whatever forms such an effort may take. Neither will it allow the carving up of its territory or infringement of its interests by foreign powers and colonists to happen again.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the past 40 years, the ever-deepening China-US cooperation that spans across the Pacific has not only advanced our own development, but also benefited the whole world. One thing that we have learned from the past four decades is that both countries benefit from cooperation and lose in confrontation.

The China-US relationship is now at a crossroads. On June 29, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump had a successful meeting in Osaka, Japan, where they agreed to continue to push forward a relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability. This has charted the course for the growth of bilateral relations. Both sides need to take a responsible attitude towards history and the long-term interests of the two peoples. They need to implement the consensus of the two Presidents with real actions, and advance cooperation in political, security, economic, trade, cultural, people-to-people and military fields, so that the China-US relationship will keep moving forward on the right track.

China will follow the principle of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation and take a positive and prudent approach to military-to-military relations with the US, so as to make them a stabilizer of the bilateral relationship and contribute to its development.

As an old Chinese saying goes, the evil can never prevail over the good. I am convinced that the most powerful driving force for China-US relations comes from the two peoples’ aspirations for a better life and for sound and steady growth of the relations, and from international expectations on peace and friendship between our two countries. If we compare China-US relations to a giant ship, then we believe that it will ride the wind, break the waves and sail on to better shores.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

I would like to propose a toast,

To the 92nd anniversary of the founding of the PLA,

To the sound and steady growth of China-US relations,

To the friendship and cooperation between the two peoples,

And to your health,

Cheers!