The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Bill English,

Hon. Minister Paul Goldsmith,

Hon. Mayor Phil Goff,

Hon. Mr. Andrew Little,

Dear friends from New Zealand parliament,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening!

 

I am very honored and pleased to join so many distinguished guests here tonight in celebration of the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. First of all, I would like to thank the New Zealand Chinese Women Association for their kind invitation and for their hard work to make this wonderful event possible. At this auspicious occasion, please allow me on behalf of the Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland, to extend our warmest festival greetings and best wishes to the friends present here tonight, and through you to all our friends, overseas Chinese compatriots, business people and students in our consular district for a very happy Mid-Autumn Day! This will be the second Mid-Autumn Festival I have spent in New Zealand. Over the past years, I have been overwhelmed by the strong growing ties and deepening friendship between China and New Zealand and between our two peoples. I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation to all the friends present here tonight and in whole New Zealand for your strong support to the development of China and New Zealand relationship.

 

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past 45 years, the development of our bilateral relationship has maintained in very good momentum, particularly after President Xi Jinping's state visit to New Zealand by the end of 2014, China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership has been constantly strengthened with deepened political mutual trust and enhanced cooperation and exchanges in all other areas, such as economy,  trade, law enforcement, defense, education, culture, tourism, science and innovation etc. China has become New Zealand's largest trading partner, largest source of international students and the second biggest destination of foreign tourists.

 

One of the most significant achievements of our bilateral relations lies in our joint promotion of the Belt and Road Initiative. New Zealand has become the first western country to sign with us an agreement on Belt and Road cooperation during the visit of Premier Li Keqiang this March. And New Zealand sent a high-level delegation led by the Honorable Minister Paul Goldsmith to attend the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation hosted in Beijing this May. The Belt and Road means a road of connectivity of policy, trade, infrastructure, financing and people to people exchanges and is a road to tap the comparative economic advantages of our partners along the belt and road in order to achieve win-win results. China and New Zealand's economy is highly complimentary with each other. We are faced with tremendous opportunities in developing our co-operations. Both China and New Zealand's economy is in good shape. China's economic growth was 6.9% in the first half of this year and continues to be the major contributor of the world economic growth.

 

The 19th national congress of Chinese communist party will be held in Beijing on 18th October, which I believe will generate strong push for our economic and social development and will enable China to make more contribution to world peace, stability and prosperity. I am confident that under such new circumstances and the framework of the Belt and Road initiative, the cooperation between China and New Zealand will reach a new level and bring more tangible benefits to people of both countries. I also firmly believe that a sound and good relation between our two countries is not only beneficial to China and New Zealand and both peoples, but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of Asia and Pacific and the whole world.

 

The above mentioned achievements cannot be accomplished without the joint efforts of Chinese compatriots here in New Zealand. You have not only made great contribution to the economic and social development as well as to the diversity of culture of New Zealand, but also have served as important bridges in promotion of mutual understanding, friendship and economic cooperation between our two countries and two peoples. It is my sincere hope that all the Chinese compatriots will stay in harmony with each other and continue to make more contributions to the China-New Zealand relations.

 

Last but not least, I want to thank all the artists, particularly the most well-known artists Dong Wenhua and Liu Chiyan from Beijing, and the staff members behind the scene for their hard work to put on tonight's show. I wish the show a great success and all of you a very happy evening, and a very very happy Mid-Autumn Day!

 

Thank you!