Executive Secretary Robert Floyd of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization,

Deputy Director General Thatchaichawalit of the United Nations Office at Vienna,

Deputy Director General LIU Hua of the International Atomic Energy Agency,

Deputy Director General ZOU Ciyong of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization,

Mr. MIAO Qingwang, Vice-Chairman of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,

Mr. SHI Zhongjun, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Welcome to the 2024 Vienna United Nations Chinese Language Day Event. Thank you for joining us today. 

The Chinese language belongs to the world. As it gains popularity around the world, more and more of our foreign colleagues and friends are speaking Chinese better than my English. Even more people are learning Chinese. Together with the other five official languages of the United Nations, Chinese has actively conveyed to the world the voice and initiatives of the UN, contributing to the effective functioning of the UN, and the active promotion of multilateralism. In a cultural sense, the Chinese language is a long winding road from traditional to modern Chinese culture, and on a wider scale it will surely serve as a vehicle to bring Chinese civilization and world civilization to our common future. 

Dear colleagues, dear friends, 

The Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping offered Chinese wisdom and approach to world civilization exchanges and common development. This year's theme of the Chinese Language Day in Vienna is "Diverse Cultures and Romantic Sceneries from Guangxi, China: A Vivid Story of Civilization and Development". Speaking of Guangxi, the first thing that comes to mind is Guilin city, renowned for its unusual and breathtaking scenery. It is often through Guilin that many people come to know and discover Guangxi. I hope that the exhibitions around you and the performances in today's event can offer a glimpse into the diverse cultures of Guangxi as a vivid profile of Chinese culture as a whole. 

Today's event also provides a good opportunity for everyone to further understand the openness, cooperation, prosperity, and development of Guangxi. As early as 2000 years ago, Guangxi was one of the earliest seaports in China. Today it remains of the same significance as the starting point of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Guangxi has been developing itself through integration into the world while contributing to shared prosperity with all its neighbors. This is a beautiful chapter in China's successful story of modernization. Two decades ago, China and ASEAN officially launched the establishment of the China–ASEAN Free Trade Area, set up the ASEAN-China Expo in Nanning, Guangxi, and established close and mutually beneficial cooperative relations. For today's event, we are pleased to celebrate together with our ASEAN colleagues the achievements of China and ASEAN Member States, in cultural exchanges and common developments.

The flash mob "Kemusan" which we saw just now, is a cultural phenomenon that emerged from Guangxi and quickly spread to the rest of the world over the past year. We can trace these lively dance moves all the way back to the happy dancers in the 2000-year-old Rock Art in Guangxi, which has been inscribed on the World Heritage List. This is a great example of the inheritance and vitality of Chinese culture. China and the Chinese people in this new era always keep an open mind in appreciating the perceptions of values by different civilizations. We respect the exploration of peoples from different countries for their development paths. We uphold equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations, and advocate the common values of humanity.  

Dear colleagues, dear friends,

Forty-five years ago, the Vienna International Centre started its operation. Over the past four decades, China has played a more and more active role on the Vienna multilateral platform. H.E. Amb. SHI Zhongjun, Secretary General of the ASEAN-China Center, whom I invited to join us today, is one of my predecessors here in Vienna from 2016 to 2018.  When I welcomed Amb. Shi over the weekend, I assured him that the expanded Chinese Mission will do an even better job in this building and beyond, to voice China's ideas, play China's due role in promoting the three Global Initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping, and spare no efforts to uphold true multilateralism and the Vienna Spirit, ultimately to build a community of a shared future for mankind.

Thank you and enjoy!