Your Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, Head of State of Samoa,

Hon. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi,

Deputy Head of State Hon. Le mamea Ropati,

Honorable Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament，

Colleagues from Diplomatic Corps,

Chinese compatriots and Overseas Chinese,

Chinese engineers, technicians, medical team doctors and volunteer teachers,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening! On behalf of the Chinese Embassy and in my own name, I wish to extend my warmest welcome to you and thank you for coming to this evening’s reception.

I have arrived in Samoa for more than one month. Over the past one month, I met with people from different sectors of the Samoan society and visited places such as Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Samoa Cultural Village and To Sua Trench. I got three deep impressions.

First is Samoa’s beautiful natural environment and its peoples’ love of their country. Every where I went, I could see people cleaning their houses, weeding the grass, taking all kinds of actions to beautify and protect their environment. The unique and splendid culture, as well as the friendly people in Samoa have also enchanted me and made me feel instantly at home in Samoa.

Second is the time-honored history of China-Samoa people-to-people exchanges, long before 1975 when the two countries established formal diplomatic ties. Quite a few Samoans I met told me that their grandfather or great grandfathers are Chinese indentured laborers who came here nearly 100 years ago, and that they are proud of the current friendship and cooperation between China and Samoa. A few days ago, I encountered an old Chinese man, who traveled all the way from Germany to Samoa, to find his root. All this have touched me deeply: that there are so many descendants of early Chinese in Samoa, and their friendly sentiments towards China.

Third is the robust development of China-Samoa relations. Last September, Hon. Prime Minister Tuilaepa visited China for the World Economic Forum in Tianjin and met with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang respectively. The visit was successful and fruitful, charting the course for the future development of bilateral relations. And then last November, President Xi met with Prime Minister Tuilaepa and leaders of seven other Pacific Island countries in the PNG. It is a meeting of historic significance in China-Pacific Island country relations. Both sides agreed to lift bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership of mutual respect and common development, which means the beginning of all-dimensional cooperation between our two countries. Samoa is one of the first Pacific Island countries to join China’s “Belt and Road” initiative by signing the Belt and Road MOU. Over the past 44 years of diplomatic relations, Samoa has firmly upheld the One China policy, and engaged in sound cooperation with China on international and regional issues such as climate change, which China highly appreciates.

On 1 April, four days after I arrived in Samoa, I accompanied Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. LUO Shugang to attend the launch of the 2019 China-Pacific Island Countries Tourism Year in Samoa. The launch and the exchanges and cooperation between the tourism industries of our two countries are not only concrete measures to implement the important outcome reached between President Xi Jinping and Pacific Island leaders in their PNG meeting last November, but also one of the exciting early harvests of the Belt and Road cooperation between China and Samoa.

Robust development of China-Samoa ties is also reflected in the expanding and deepening practical cooperation: six highly-experienced Chinese doctors that formed the 15th Medical Team to Samoa are working with local medical professionals to provide the best possible treatment to patients. They also engage in clinical exchanges and training cooperation with local counterparts. Phase four of the China-Samoa Agricultural Technical Aid Project has been in smooth progress. Nine Chinese agricultural experts have been helping Samoan farmers with their expertise. Five Chinese language teachers, six science teachers, and the Confucius Institute set up last September in the NUS, have been teaching for the primary, secondary and tertiary schools in Samoa. Their professionalism and love for the students have been highly regarded by students, parents and their local counterparts. What’s more, China has been actively supporting Samoa’s hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games. Chinese engineers and workers have been working day and night for the early completion of the sports facilities such as the building of a new sports complex, and the renovation of the stadium and aquatic center under the bilateral grant scheme. Nearly 300 athletes and chefs have traveled to China for training. Free sports equipment and vehicles have been provided to Samoa. China will also send technicians and experts to provide technical support for the firework display and mass games during the opening and closing ceremonies.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. After 70 years of perseverance and hard work, huge changes have taken place in China, turning the country from an extremely poor and backward country to the second largest economy in the world. Today, China’s GDP is over 12 trillion US dollars, and it contributes to more than 30% of the world economic growth. To give you a better understanding of China’s development in the past 70 years and China-Samoa practical cooperation, photo exhibitions have been put up outside and you are all welcome to have a look.

China’s development will not just benefit its own people, but also people in the whole world. It will provide new historic opportunities to the development of Samoa and China-Samoa ties. China has its development strategies and plans, so has Samoa. We would like to work with the Samoan side for better alignment of our development strategies so that we can achieve common development, and make greater contribution to peace, security and prosperity of the region and the world as a whole.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Achievement in China-Samoa friendship could not have been made without the joint efforts of leaders and peoples of both countries. I am proud and honored to be able to serve China-Samoa relations at a time when our bilateral ties are making big strides. As Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, I will work with all the friends and partners in Samoa for the furthering of our friendship and cooperation. I believe, with the joint efforts of both sides and the strong support of friends in different sectors, China-Samoa ties will enter an even brighter future.

In conclusion, I wish to propose a toast,

To the prosperity and happiness of both the Samoan and Chinese people,

To the long-lasting China-Samoa friendship,

To the health of all of you present today,

Manuvea.

Cheers!

Thank you!