Director General Li Yong,

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi,

Deputy Director General Dennis Thatchaichawalit,

It gives me great pleasure to see you today at the opening ceremony of the 2021United Nations Chinese Language Day in Vienna. Though we cannot meet in person because of the pandemic, but I hope today's event will bring us closer, with a greater sense of a community of shared future.

Excellencies and colleagues,

2021 is an extraordinary year for China. On July 1st, the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrated its 100th anniversary. In this centenary journey, the CPC has united the Chinese people in forging ahead with a most magnificent chapter in the history of the Chinese nation.

It has won great victories in the revolutionary war, carried out dynamic socialist construction and deepened reform and opening-up, ushering into a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. With over five thousand years' history, China has evolved into a dynamic, prosperous and strong country with profound changes, out of all recognition.

The centenary journey China has traversed is a journey for rejuvenating the Chinese nation. The CPC is a staunch patriotic party. Since its inception, it has taken the responsibility of accomplishing the historic mission of achieving national independence and prosperity. After a century of painstaking efforts, the CPC has successfully led the Chinese people in pursuit of socialism with Chinese characteristics, bringing China from a weak country into a prosperous and strong country in the East.

It has achieved both sustained fast economic growth and long-term social stability, and it has become the world's second largest economy.

The "pass-code" of China's success is the close integration and mutual reinforcement of the strong leadership of the CPC, the right path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the industrious and brave Chinese people.

The centenary journey China has traversed is a journey for bringing well-being to the Chinese people. "Serve the People" is not just a motto for the Chinese communists, the CPC has all along genuinely taken the people's well-being as its top priority in its work. In recent years, under the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping, the CPC has set the people's aspiration for a better life as its goal. China has attained historic achievements in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

It has, in particular, eliminated absolute poverty through targeted poverty alleviation plans and measures, and completed the 2030 SDG goals 10 years ahead of schedule. This has helped contribute more than 70% of the global poverty reduction.

The centenary journey China has traversed in a journey for bringing harmony with all other countries in the world. To bring about and preserve domestic peace and security by China, for a country with a population of 1.4 billion, in itself is a great contribution to world peace and development. With the important notion of "Great Harmony in the World", the CPC has been leading China in promotion of world peace and security by playing the role of a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.

First, the CPC has always been an advocate of the spirit of internationalism. The CPC upholds the spirit of internationalism while striving for the cause of human progress. China has always been upholding the principle of equality and mutual benefit for common progress. It has been sharing experience of good governance with other developing countries, while providing them with support and assistance within the realm of its capacity, in helping them strengthen their indigenous capabilities for development.

Second, China has always been a contributor to global sustainable development. Development is CPC's top priority in governing and rejuvenating China while continuing to deepening opening-up. This year coincides with the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the WTO. Since its accession, China has been active in its integration with the world economic system, with an annual contribution of 30% to the global economic growth. With the Belt and Road Initiative, China has provided broad development opportunities to other countries. It has adhered its policy of green development and injected strong impetus into global sustainable development by setting carbon peak and carbon neutral targets. China is a beneficiary, but in the meantime, also a practical contributor to economic globalization, helping bring about win-win results to all.

Third, China has always been a firm defender of multilateralism and international justice. China was the first country to sign the UN Charter, and the representative of the CPC, also put his signature on it. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legal seat of the People's Republic of China at the UN. Over the past 50 years, the CPC's governance philosophy has been highly consistent with the spirit of the UN Charter. China has always supported the cause of the UN, with an active role in global governance as well as in meeting global challenges such as climate change, infectious diseases and cyber security. In the fight against COVID-19, China has been helping countries in urgent need, including by supplying more than 300 million doses of vaccine globally.

Excellencies and colleagues,

In embarking on a new journey of building a modern socialist country in an all-round way, the CPC will do its best to lead the Chinese people to build a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist country. China, for its part, will continue to hold high the banner of building a community with a shared future for mankind, firmly uphold peace, development and progress, practice true multilateralism. In the meantime, it will also work together with all other countries to build lasting peace, universal security, common prosperity while promoting an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world.

The glorious centenary history of the CPC is not only rooted in the rich Chinese civilization that lasted over 5,000 years, but also a continuation and development of the Chinese civilization.

Excellencies and colleagues,

Today, the Chinese Language Day in Vienna will present you with a wonderful Chinese cultural feast that travels from the past and to the present. I hope it will help you understand China and the CPC better!

In conclusion, I wish today's event a great success! Thank you!

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