By Ambassador Fan Yong

Honorable Minister Kabo Morwaeng, Minister for State President,

Honorable Ministers and Kgosies, Senior Government officials,

Your Excellency Ambassador Morais, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps Excellences, Colleagues,

Friends from the Media,

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

Good evening! Dumelang!

Welcome to our Reception celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and also my welcome reception. Allow me first, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Botswana, I would like to extend our sincere thanks and warm welcome to all guests present this evening.  Madume go botlhe le a amogelesega.

The year 2024 marks the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 75 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and with persistent hard work of the generations of Chinese people, China achieved a great transformation from a poor country to a moderately prosperous one in all respects, and opened a new page to build a great country and national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.

China has embarked on and forged ahead the path of socialism with its own characteristics in consistent with its national conditions. And China has achieved two miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability.

China’s economic influence continues to increase upholding continuously its opening-up policy. China is now an important engine of global economic development.

From 2013 to 2023, China’s contribution to world economic growth was around 30%. In the first half of 2024, China’s GDP grew by 5.0%, presenting the robust recovery and growth of China’s economy.

China has brought about an all-round improvement in people’s lives adhering to a people-centered philosophy of development. China completed the arduous task of eradicating absolute poverty in China in 2021, which made it 10 years ahead of schedule of the poverty reduction target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

China has committed to peaceful development and become a staunch force for the peace, stability, openness, cooperation, and collective pursuit of modernization in the world. 

In July this year, the third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee was successfully held, which laid out the systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This Plenary Session opened broader prospects for Chinese modernization and with epoch-making significance.

The resolution adopted by the Plenary Session brought out more than 300 important reform measures, which were to be completed by 2029, sending strong signal that China will never stop its endeavors to pursue comprehensive reform and high-standard opening up.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends.

Early this month in Beijing, China, the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was successfully convened. Under the theme of “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” China and Africa took stock of the journey of China-Africa friendship, commended the progress made in implementing the outcomes of FOCAC, and reached a clear political consensus on strengthening cooperation across the board.

Two important documents, the Beijing Declaration and the Action Plan, were adopted unanimously. The FOCAC “summit week” became a “Global South moment,” a highlight of the joint pursuit of a community with a shared future for mankind. A powerful message was sent by China and Africa for advancing development together, and demonstrated the Global South’s unwavering confidence in unity and cooperation.

 One of the highlights of this Summit is to establish “the strategic relations”. Chinese President H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping announced that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic relations with China to be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

President Xi also announced 10 partnership actions that China would take with Africa to advance modernization in the next three years, the Partnership Actions are; Mutual Learning among Civilizations, Trade Prosperity, Industrial Chain Cooperation, Connectivity, Development Cooperation, Health, Agriculture and Livelihoods, People-to-People Exchanges, Green Development and Common Security.

These ten partnership actions focus on the common pursuit and fundamental interests of the people of China and Africa, and are based on the practical needs of both sides to advance modernization, providing new impetus for China-Africa friendship and cooperation. To implement the ten partnership actions, the Chinese government will provide 360 billion Chinese yuan of financial support through the next three years.

H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi, President of Botswana, attended this summit with a senior delegation, demonstrating fully the great importance President Masisi attaches to the development of the bilateral relations and the friendship he has for China.

During the Summit, the two Presidents had a productive bilateral meeting and announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between China and Botswana, they had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Botswana traditional friendship and pragmatic cooperation in various areas, providing guidelines for China-Botswana relationship in future.

Almost 15 years ago, in the year 2010, President Xi Jinping visited Botswana. He was then the Chinese Vice President. And I was in his delegation. It was the first time for me to step on this beautiful country. Now, when China-Botswana relations come to a historic moment of development, I am very much honored to be appointed as the Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, and witnessed the successful visit of President Masisi to Beijing attending the FOCAC Summit, promoting China-Botswana relations to a strategic partnership, a new milestone of our bilateral relations. I can get my mission is glorious and my responsibility is great.

Next year marks the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Botswana, as the new Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, I will take China-Botswana strategic partnership as a new starting point, and do my best and every endeavor to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of states and the development of our bilateral relations.

We will firmly support each other and strengthen cooperation in industry, agriculture, minerals, clean energy, education, and medical and health care, among others with Botswana, remain committed to being partners of mutual trust, common development and close people-to-people bond. I also look forward to receiving support from friends from all walks of life in Botswana and jointly opening a new chapter in China-Botswana relations in the new era.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends.

October 1 is China’s National Day, and one day before, the September 30 is Botswana’s Independence Day, on this special occasion, May I propose a toast,

To the fruitful building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era!

To the bright future of China-Botswana Strategic Partnership!

To the prosperity of China and Botswana and the well-being of our people!

祝愿我们的祖国繁荣昌盛，人民幸福！祝各位来宾安康如意！

Thank you! Pula!