Rt. Hon. Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters,

Hon. Todd McClay, Judith Collins,

Other Respected Members of Parliament Raymond Huo, Dr. Yang Jian, David Seymour, Tim van de Molen,

His Worship Mayor Meng Foon,

Sir Owen Glen,

My Dear Chinese Compatriots,

Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good afternoon,

I am delighted to join so many distinguished guests today at this Carnival and Charity event to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, the year of Pig, which symbolizes good fortune, prosperity and good luck. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland, I would like to express our best wishes to all the guests and friends present here today, and through you to all the friends in the Consulate district and NZ, including our dear Chinese compatriots, business people, students and media, for a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

The Chinese New Year is the most important festival to the Chinese people, as it is the time for family getting reunion to celebrate what has been achieved in the past year, and looking forward to another year of prosperity.

Over the past year, China celebrated its 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up. Over the past four decades, the Chinese people have withstood all sorts of challenges, risks and tests, and created a miracle in history of development through their hard work and wisdom. Those changes have benefited both China and the whole world.

This year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC and is a crucial year for meeting our first centenary goal, which is to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects. As we are facing a world that we have never seen for a century, where is China heading for? China will firmly continue to take its own path which fits its conditions and is in keeping with the trend of the times. China will pursue people-centered development, ensuring the people to live better lives. Development will remain to be the top priority. China will never stop reforms and the door will only open wider to the outside world. No matter how the international situation changes, China’s steadfast determination in its defense of its national sovereignty and security will remain unchanged. China‘s sincerity and goodwill to safeguard world peace and to promote common development will remain unchanged. We will continue to be a staunch supporter of free trade, multilateralism and rules based international order.

Culture, history and philosophy are the best keys to understand China. Chinese culture values the teachings that one should help others to succeed while seeking one’s own success, while create a world for all, treat others with respect and pursue win-win co-operation. We reject the practices of strong bullying the weak or self claimed supremacy. Today, China’s interests are closely linked to those of the world. We will continue to work with other countries to build a community with shared future for mankind, and a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. We will continue to push forward the cooperation of the Belt and Road Initiative. In April this year, China will host the Second BRI Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing.

The upcoming New Year is also a critical year for the bilateral relations between China and New Zealand. For many years. China has been New Zealand’s largest trading partner, largest source of international students, and second largest source of overseas tourists, which have brought tremendous benefits to both countries and peoples. China now plays a role of top three major drivers to NZ’s economic growth, which shows our two economies are highly complementary with each other. Along with the fast growing middle class in China which have reached 400 million, and with China being poised to be the NO.1 consumer and tourist market of the world, there will be greater potential of cooperation between our two countries. The nature of our cooperation is mutually beneficial. A sound and healthy China-NZ relationship based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit is not only in the interest of both peoples and countries, but also conducive to Asia pacific and the whole world. This important relationship needs to be nurtured with care, and requires joint efforts to meet each other and grasp the opportunities to accomplish more tangible win-win results for our two countries and peoples.

Business activities serve as a significant barometer for development of economic cooperation between countries. We have always encouraged Chinese companies to conduct economic cooperation in other countries including NZ on the basis of following market principles and international rules and abiding by local laws. It is our sincere hope that the host country will also provide welcoming, transparent, indiscriminate and fair environment as well as level ground for Chinese enterprises to do business and achieve win-win results that are in the long and essential interests of the local people.

In China, a horse is a symbol of strength and readiness to take off. As China’s horse industry is set to take off, particularly in Hainan pilot free trade zone, many Chinese see golden opportunity of investment in it and are ready to make it a reality. I believe that with the sound and smooth advancement of the bilateral relations, cooperation in horse industry between our two countries will tap its great potential and grow into its full play.

Last but not least, I want to thank our Chinese communities for hosting this annual event. Our 200,000 Chinese compatriots have not only made great contribution to the political, economic, social development and cultural diversities of NZ, but also played an important role in strengthening the ties and cooperation between China and NZ. I sincerely hope you will continue to do so and serve as bridges in building the 21st aritime Silk Road between our two countries. Finally, I wish all of you a Happy New Year and all the best for the Year of the Pig!

Thank you!