Brighter Future for China and Albania and Their People
“Both China and the EU are staunch supporters of multilateralism and the multilateral trading system. As a special friend of Albania, China firmly supports Albania’s accession to the EU, and applauds every progress it has made,” said Ambassador Zhou Ding
TIRANA – “It is a great pleasure to celebrate with you the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the renowned National Historical Museum of Albania. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Albania, I wish to express my sincere thanks to all of you for your consistent support for China and for China-Albania friendship,” has said the Chinese Ambassador to Tirana, Zhou Ding who organized a reception together with his wife Mme. Lyu Renhong in Tirana on September 24, 2019.
Ambassador Zhou took the occasion to express his deepest sympathy to all the Albanian people who have suffered losses and trauma during the earthquake which hit Albania last Saturday. “The Chinese people and the Chinese Embassy in Albania will always stand with you and we are ready to provide our help,” he told the participants in the reception among whom were President Ilir Meta, Speaker Gramoz Ruci, Chairman of the Albanian-Chinese Friendship Group Bashkim Fino, representatives of the diplomatic corps in Tirana, state and government officials, journalists as well as other invitees.
Mr. Zhou noted that the year 2019 is a special year for China. “Seven decades ago, the People’s Republic of China was born in the struggle for national liberation and independence. Seven decades on, by adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, China has grown from an impoverished and war-torn nation to the world’s second largest economy, largest trader in goods, and a leading innovation center,” he said. Further on the Ambassador underscored that now China is a country with a per capita GDP of nearly 10 thousand US dollars and the world’s biggest middle-income population of more than 400 million has emerged while in recent years, it has contributed more than 30 percent of global growth, serving as an anchor and engine of the world economy.
“We are proud of our achievements and the path we’ve taken to develop our country. President Xi once said, “No matter how far we go, we shall never forget where we came from.”
Asked by Albanian and Chinese media during the reception President Meta appreciated the Albanian-Chinese exchanges during the 70 years of the diplomatic relations. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Albania and China.
“This year, the Chinese Embassy, together with our Albanian friends, has hosted and will continue to host a series of events to mark the special anniversary of our great relations,” said Ambassador Zhou.
In a comment on political issues he said that over the past decades, China has been committed to an independent foreign policy of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. “We oppose any form of interventionism and hegemonism. With a spirit of inclusiveness and a traditional belief in harmony, China always sees other countries as a friend or a potential friend.” In addition he said that China and Europe are becoming closer, and the EU has been China’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and China is the EU’s second largest trading partner. “More importantly, both China and the EU are staunch supporters of multilateralism and the multilateral trading system. As a special friend of Albania, China firmly supports Albania’s accession to the EU, and applauds every progress it has made. “
During the reception a music performance was played by Chinese and Albanian artists, while there was a traditional Chinese Arts exhibition in the main entrance hall of the museum, which was launched on September 23.
“Thank you for your long-term dedication to our friendship. I look forward to working with you all to create an even brighter future for our two countries and peoples,” said Ambassador Zhou Ding in the speech which follows:
It is a great pleasure to celebrate with you the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the renowned National Historical Museum of Albania. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Albania, I wish to express my sincere thanks to all of you for your consistent support for China and for China-Albania friendship.
Last Saturday, the strongest earthquake in 30 years struck Albania. Here, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to all the Albanian people who have suffered losses and trauma during the earthquake. The Chinese people and the Chinese Embassy in Albania will always stand with you and we are ready to provide our help.
The year 2019 is a special year for China. Seven decades ago, the People’s Republic of China was born in the struggle for national liberation and independence. Seven decades on, by adhering to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, China has grown from an impoverished and war-torn nation to the world’s second largest economy, largest trader in goods, and a leading innovation center.
A country with a per capita GDP of nearly 10 thousand US dollars and the world’s biggest middle-income population of more than 400 million has emerged.
In recent years, China has contributed more than 30 percent of global growth, serving as an anchor and engine of the world economy.
We are proud of our achievements and the path we’ve taken to develop our country. President Xi once said, “No matter how far we go, we shall never forget where we came from.”
Over the past decades, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government have always put people first. The ultimate goal of our development is nothing but fulfilling our people’s expectations for a better life. To achieve our goal, we’ve consistently pushed forward reform and opening-up, and the rule of law. We fight corruption unswervingly and encourage innovation to pursue green and sustainable development.
Today, China has established the world’s largest social security network, covering more than 1 billion people with basic pension system and medical insurance system.
We’ve reduced the population of extreme poverty from 770 million to less than 20 million. The population lifted out of poverty in China accounts for 70 percent of that of the whole world.
Today, China has built the world’s largest mobile communication network and the largest high speed rail system. Each day, 1 billion people use smart phones to access information, get education, do shopping, and manage their finances. Each day, over 5 million people travel on railways at the speed of 300 kilometers per hour.
Over the past decades, China has been committed to an independent foreign policy of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence. China endured semi-colonization for a century. So we very much cherish the hard-won sovereignty and territorial integrity. We oppose any form of interventionism and hegemonism. With a spirit of inclusiveness and a traditional belief in harmony, China always sees other countries as a friend or a potential friend.
President Xi Jinping’s vision of fostering a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for mankind has been written into the documents of the UN, G20, and other international organizations, contributing Chinese proposals to world peace and progress.
Over the past decades, China has been committed to win-win cooperation, multilateralism and free trade. We maintain that all nations should firmly uphold the international system with the UN Charter as its core. Following the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) offers an important platform for international cooperation and creates new room for global growth.
Since the inception of the BRI six years ago, the total trade between China and BRI partner countries has increased to over 6 trillion US dollars, and China’s direct investment in these countries has surpassed 80 billion US dollars. In the coming 15 years, China’s imports of goods and services are expected to exceed 30 trillion and 10 trillion US dollars respectively, which presents huge opportunities for Albania, Europe and the world.
China and Europe are becoming closer. Each day, six hundred flights travel between China and Europe. Each year, six million Chinese visit Europe. The EU has been China’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years, and China is the EU’s second largest trading partner. More importantly, both China and the EU are staunch supporters of multilateralism and the multilateral trading system. As a special friend of Albania, China firmly supports Albania’s accession to the EU, and applauds every progress it has made.
This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Albania. Throughout the years, our two countries have enjoyed a profound friendship, which has benefited both peoples. Driven by cooperation under the BRI and “17+1” framework, we have further deepened our political mutual trust and boosted two-way exchanges and cooperation in trade, culture, education, tourism, and human resources. We are translating the great potential of cooperation into tangible results.
This year, the Chinese Embassy, together with our Albanian friends, has hosted and will continue to host a series of events to mark the special anniversary of our great relations, and one of the events will be sponsoring the publishing of an Albanian artist’s paintings created 52 years ago. In 1967, a young artist, Mr. Mumtaz Dhrami, was invited to Beijing to join the celebration of the 18th anniversary of the founding of New China. During his one-month stay, he created one hundred paintings depicting what he saw in China. 52 years have passed, I am delighted to have him here tonight at the reception. Nevertheless, I am sure that Mr. Dhrami’s depiction of China certainly looks different from the China in the eyes of Ms. Marsela Musabelliu who has just completed her study and got her Ph.D. in China’ s Xiamen University. She is now a BRI expert, and she is also here together with us tonight.
In conclusion, I want to thank all of you, my friends from all walks of life in this great country once again. Thank you for your long-term dedication to our friendship. I look forward to working with you all to create an even brighter future for our two countries and peoples./argumentum.al
