Your Excellency Engineer Mothanna Gharaibeh, Minister of Investment and representative of the Jordanian Government,

Your Royal Highness Princess Dana Firas,

Dear ministers,members of parliament and generals,

Dear colleagues of the diplomatic corps,

Ladies and gentlemen and dear friends,

My fellow compatriots,

Good evening. As-salamu alaykum.

Welcome to the reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

In the long journey of 75 years, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, led by and united around the Communist Party of China, have worked tirelessly and achieved double miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability.

The share of China’s economy in the global economy has grown to roughly 17 percent in 2023, up from 1.7 percent in 1978. China’s contribution to global growth has exceeded 30% for over a decade.

China has become a world leader in manned spaceflight, lunar exploration, quantum information science, new energy technology. It is becoming the “world R&D lab”, moving from “Made in China” to “Created in China”and then to “Intelligent Manufacturing in China”.

China’s high-speed railway mileage ranks first globally. More than 60 percent of the world’s 5G base stations are in China. Among the 100 highest bridges worldwide, 49 are in Guizhou Province of China.

In 2023, the newly installed capacity of hydro,wind and solar power generation and other renewable energy accounts for 40 percent of the world’s total. For 9 consecutive years, China has been leading the world in production and sales of new energy vehicles.

In the past 75 years, China has adopted a people-centered approach and made relentless efforts to reduce poverty. Nearly 800 million people in rural areas were lifted out of poverty.

China has become the major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions. It has signed cooperation agreements under the Belt and Road Initiative with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations including Jordan.

In the past 75 years, China has adhered to an independent foreign policy of peace, remained steadfast in safeguarding world peace,  provided impetus to common development, and persisted in promoting dialogue and exchanges among civilizations. China proposed the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence,which are still viable today. China introduced and is implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, in a bid to build a global community with a shared future.

An important reason for China’s success in the past 75 years, is that China is always advancing with the times, exploring a development path best suited to its own national conditions. Last July, the third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC adopted a comprehensive and ambitious agenda for further deepening reforms to advance Chinese modernization, proposing over 300 important reform measures. This will bring new development opportunities to the world.  

Ladies and gentlemen,

The world today is undergoing profound transformation and facing turmoils, instabilities and uncertainties. The Global South is a force committed to safeguarding the international system with the United Nations at its core and improving global governance. China and Arab states are important members of the Global South. We will work with Jordan and other Arab friends to implement the five cooperation frameworks put forward by President Xi Jinping at the ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, moving closer to a China-Arab community with a shared future.

The Middle East is one of the cradles of human civilization. But today on this piece of land, war rages on, people are plunged into immense sufferings and misery. The conflict in Gaza has lasted nearly a year, causing unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. From the outset, China has firmly pushed for ceasefire, upheld international justice and provided humanitarian aid. China highly appreciates Jordan’s important efforts to promote ceasefire and provide humanitarian assistance under the leadership of King Abdullah II. His Majesty’s speech at the UN General Assembly yesterday is a powerful and sobering message. China will work with Jordan and other countries to make unceasing efforts to urge the international community to take actions with the strongest sense of urgency, revitalizing the political vision of the Two-State Solution, working towards a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue.

Ladies and gentlemen,

This year marks the 25^th anniversary of His Majesty’s assumption of constitutional powers. Under the leadership of His majesty and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein, Jordan has made great achievements in nation building and modernization reforms. We congratulate the Jordanian people for the successful parliament election and the forming of new cabinet. We wish the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan continuous progress on her path to modernization.

Reform and modernization is the common pursuit of China and Jordan. I am fully convinced that our two countries will be good companions and partners on this new journey.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1977, under the strategic guidance of the our leaders, relations between China and Jordan have enjoyed steady and sound growth, with our strategic partnership expanding and consolidating in the past year.

High-level exchanges continue to deepen. His Excellency Mr. Faisal Al-Fayez, President of the Senate, and His Excellency Chief Justice Mohammad Ghazou, President of the Judicial Council, visited China, boosting exchanges and cooperation between our legislative and judicial bodies. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi was on the phone with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, engaged in intensive discussions and coordination on regional issues.

Practical cooperation continues to flourish. A new garment factory in Aqaba invested by a Chinese company started production. A Chinese company, in collaboration with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, is developing a new industrial park, which is expected to attract investment of over 1 billion US dollars. A Chinese company has entered partnership with Jordan to explore green hydrogen production. The expanded and rehabilitated Al Salt/Al Ardah Road, financed by the Chinese Government, is open for traffic. More than 500 Jordanian friends benefited from various training programmes in China.

People-to-people ties continue to strengthen. Chinese artists performed at the Jerash Festival. Chinese cultural events featuring tea and poetry were warmly received. The Chinese Embassy issued nearly ten thousand visas in the first nine months. Over 500 Chinese students are studying in Jordan, which is a vote of confidence in Jordan’s security and stability.

Please allow me to introduce today’s special guests. They are young friends from Mabarrat Um Al Hussein, Um Tina District School and Khadija bint Khuwaylid School, the Capital Youth Center, and Jordanian students who received Chinese Ambassador Scholarships. A warm welcome to you all!

I would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all friends who have long cared for and supported China-Jordan relations, including friendship organizations such as the Jordanian-Chinese Friendship Association and the Jordan-China Cultural Cooperation Committee.

Dear compatriots, I wish to extend my sincere greetings to you on the occasion of our National Day. I hope you always stay true to your heart, contribute to the progress of our motherland and continue to serve as a bridge of friendship between China and Jordan.

Finally, please join me in wishing the People’s Republic of China continued prosperity, and may friendship between China and Jordan last forever.

I also wish all guests good health, good luck and happiness.

Thank you. Shukran.