H.E. Mr. GU Xiaojie, Chinese Ambassador

（September 30, 2009）

His Excellency President Girma,

Honorable Ministers,

Excellencies Ambassadors,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

Today, we are gathering here to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Please allow me, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy, to extend warm welcome and sincere thanks to President Girma and all distinguished guests present here. I would also like to express my hearty appreciation to President Girma for his congratulatory message to President Hu Jingtao of China on this occasion.

Sixty years is but a very short time in China’s long history. In the past 60 years, the Chinese people have written a brilliant page by making remarkable achievements in the modernization efforts and realizing a historical transformation from weakness to prosperity.

In the past 30 years since reform and opening up, China’s economic capacity and overall national strength have been enhanced remarkably. From 1952 to 2008, China’s GDP increased 77 times, and per capita GDP is now over US$3000, an increase of 32.4 times. China now has the largest foreign exchange reserve in the world, exceeding US$2.1 trillion. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games further displayed to the world a China dedicated to peace, friendship, harmony, cooperation and with vigor and vitality.

The past 60 years has also witnessed the development of the China-Africa relationship. This relationship is based on sincere friendship, equality, mutual trust, solidarity and cooperation. The establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, particularly the successful convocation of 2006 Beijing Summit, opened up a new chapter in the development of China-Africa relationship. Thanks to the concerted efforts by China and African countries, implementation of the follow-up actions of the Beijing Summit has progressed smoothly and achieved remarkable results. The new type of China-Africa strategic partnership has been steadily strengthened. In more than one month’s time, the 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum will be convened in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, which will be another significant event on deepening the new type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership for sustainable development.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The year 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Ethiopia. Both China and Ethiopia are countries with long history and ancient civilizations. The two countries enjoy long-standing friendship. Mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit are the major sources of the ever flourishing bilateral relations. We are happy to see that, over the years, the Sino-Ethiopian relationship and cooperation have gained new momentum and maintained rapid development with fruitful results in all areas.

Ethiopia has made remarkable achievements in its development and nation-building, registering double-digit economic growth over the past 5 years. The Ethiopian Government has taken dynamic measures to cope with the challenges of the global financial crisis and has succeeded in maintaining fast economic growth. The rapid development of Ethiopian economy has created new opportunities for deepening Sino-Ethiopian cooperation. The Chinese Government cherishes the Sino-Ethiopian friendship and is ready to further enhance the mutually beneficial relations for common development.

Now, May I propose a toast,

To the long-lasting friendship between China and Ethiopia,

To the health of H.E. President Girma and all present here,

Cheers.