Welcome to tonight's reception as we get together to celebrate the 67th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On behalf of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Sydney, I would like to sincerely thank you for coming.
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China 67 years ago, dramatic changes have taken place and great achievements have been scored, which have drawn worldwide attention. China has embarked on a development path that fits China's national conditions, and has become the second largest economy in the world, the biggest trader of goods, and the third largest foreign direct investor. With China's per capita GDP lifted to close to 8,000 US dollars, the life of 1.3 billion-plus people has been improved significantly. We have accomplished just in a few decades what took other countries several hundred year to achieve. At the same time, China pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, has been actively involved in building a fairer and more equitable international order, and made outstanding contribution to world peace and prosperity.
This year marks the beginning of the final stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and a crucial year in deepening all-round reform in China. In the context of world economic recovery remaining weak and China facing various deep-seated problems during its economic transition, China has been upholding firmly the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, actively adapting its economy to a new normal, tearing down obstacles posed by out-dated systemic mechanisms via deepening all-round reform, advancing economic transformation and upgrading, stimulating market vitality and creativity of society, and maintaining economic growth and stability. During the first half of this year, the Chinese economy grew by 6.7%, which is a hard-won achievement that deserves plaudits.
This is also a harvest year for China's "Belt and Road Initiative". This cooperative initiative has received positive response from countries along the routes and the areas. A series of key projects of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the building of economic corridors have achieved important progress. The 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road has also been progressing. The China-initiated Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank has begun to play active roles in regional infrastructure construction. It is fair to say that "the Belt and Road Initiative" has made encouraging progress and achievements. In the future, emphasis will be laid on the establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation network, new patterns and diversified cooperation platforms, focusing on building a green, healthy, intelligent and peaceful Silk Road. China will accelerate the connection of its development strategies, development advantages, and regional advantages with those of countries along the routes in a coordinated manner.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Not long ago, the G20 Summit was successfully concluded in Hangzhou, China. This is a meeting held in the most complex situation, facing the most diverse challenges and with high expectations of all parties since the international financial crisis. Leaders of G20 states, and 8 invited countries as well as heads of 7 international organizations attended the Summit themed "Towards an Innovative, Invigorated, Interconnected and Inclusive World Economy". Parties engaged in in-depth exchange of views, reached many important consensuses and achieved fruitful outcomes with respect to strengthening policy coordination, innovating growth patterns, the global economic and financial governance, international trade and investment, inclusive and inter-connected development, as well as other outstanding issues of the world economy. The G20 Leaders' Communiqué Hangzhou Summit and 28 specific outcome documents were issued during the Summit, which unlocked fresh driving force for global growth, produced new solutions to global economic problems, charted a new path for improving economic and financial governance, and made new contribution to building an innovative, invigorated, interconnected and inclusive world economy.
The Summit demonstrated the partnership spirit of facing challenges together, charted the course for world economic growth, mapped out a series of practical action plans, and showcased the determination of pursuing common development. The results achieved in the G20 Hangzhou Summit have seen major breakthroughs in quantity, quality, depth and breadth, setting up a new global benchmark. G20 should be an action team rather than a mere talk shop.
China and Australia are both important countries in the Asia and Pacific region, and each other's important partner. During the G20 Hangzhou Summit and the East Asian leaders' meetings held recently, President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang met with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull respectively. Leaders of the two countries have reached important consensus on upholding mutual trust, mutual benefit and strengthening cooperation and communication. China and Australia are two countries with different political systems, stages of development and cultural traditions, and it is only natural for us to have differences over certain issues. We should treasure our hard-won friendship, follow the common aspiration of the continuous deepening of China-Australia friendship and enhancing practical cooperation between the two countries. We should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and continue stepping up political mutual trust. As China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continues to evolve, our cooperation on bilateral and global issues will be greatly enriched, we will surely embrace an even brighter future and bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.
Thank you!