H.E. Dame Louise Lake-Tack, the Governor General,

Hon. Baldwin Spenser, the Prime Minister and Mrs. Spenser,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening,

First of all, thank you for coming tonight to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

This is an occasion that we celebrate every year. But this year, it is remarkable.

It is remarkable because at 10pm tonight, two hours later from now on the ABS Television and CTV channel 471, Chinese channel in English will broadcast live a grand and magnificent parade in Beijing, capital of China, the great performance of people and military parade probably will bring you to a little bit surprise as you watch , the grant event could be compared to the 2008 Beijing Olympics games opening ceremony. It is worth watching tonight.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Sixty years ago tomorrow, a new China was born in the Far East. At that time China was so poor that some suspicious scholars in the West cried as saying who could come to the rescue to feed China with 450 million mouths.

Sixty years later, the answer is clear. 

60 years ago, the peoples' life expectancy was 35 years, now up to 73. 60 years ago, people's illiteracy rate was 80% high, and now only 1% and even less. The compulsory education is due for 9 years. 60 years ago, people's income on the average was US. D.100 annually, and last year saw U.S.D.3300. Having got hungry far behind, we are on a path to a decent life. 

China is really changed, and changed greatly. But we believes in philosophy of dialectical materialism. Like a saying in the West that every coin has two sides, and China is no exceptional. China economic scale is draconian and huge, and next year we probably will be becoming the second world largest economy. But please remember we have a population of 1.3 billion people. Anything divided by 1.3 billion is very small. The almost second largest world economy divided by 1.3 billion betrays that China's per capita GDP is only US.D 3300, being ranked 106 among all the countries in the world according Pew Research Centre of the United States. Antigua and Barbuda ranked 49. So China still has a long way to go and we must continue to work hard for another 60 years.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China's development is inextricably collaborating with outside world. Our development benefited from cooperation with all of the countries. They cooperated with China in various areas such as political, economic, scientific, cultural, educational, humanitarian and so on. And China also gradually benefits the world in its own way. Some American academics recently raised the Beijing Consensus, that means China's development pattern which is between former Soviet Union's centre planning economy and United States' laissez faire market economy is something new and worth study for developing countries. Whether it is right or not, China is really beginning to draw the world's attention.

Tonight I would less elaborate what's going on between China and world than draw your attention to the relations between China and Antigua and Barbuda.

In 1983, under the wise political decision of V.C. Bird, then Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, this country established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China as the first country in Eastern Caribbean. And since then the government of this country continuously developed the bilateral relations in various fields and did them well. From 2004, Hon. Baldwin Spencer began to be at the helm of the government that further enhanced the two countries cooperative ties. Prime Minister Spencer announced that as a true friend of China, Antigua and Barbuda shares similar views on a number of multilateral issues in the international occasions. His government and people strongly believe that there is only one China and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal Government representing the entire Chinese people. We highly commend all these for the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda in their sincere support to us in these important and critical issues.

Of course, our relations are not only restricted in these areas. We have had many exchanges and cooperation with people from all walks of life in the country such as different ministries of the government, parliamentary, media, defence force, police, cultural establishments, educational institutions, medical agents, industry and business circles and so on. Without your friends cooperation, the relations between China and Antigua and Barbuda wouldn't have been so colourful and beautiful like today.

And my thanks also go to Chinese companies working hard for this country. They are very busy these days together with local authorities and indigenous employees to building something good for this nation. Street light project is under construction and when completed it will shine the originally dark street across the inland making women and children walking at night with safety and comfortableness. At that time I am afraid that the saying beach is only the beginning would be probably outdated, because the night is another beginning. 30-megawatt power plant has been proceeding well on schedule for the aim of future constant supply of electricity for the households of the country and of course the night lighting. I wish Chinese companies do excellent jobs for the benefit of the masses of the people throughout this country. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world is changing. And so are China and Antigua and Barbuda. We must be catching up with the time and tide. Looking foreword to the future, I feel optimistic that based on where we are, so long as we have a creative vision and renovate ideas, the political trust and understanding between our two countries can be reached to a higher lever, that the economic cooperation can be explored for wider areas, that humanitarian and cultural exchange can be actively strengthened, and the bilateral business of other areas can be well developed

Let's work together to address the new challenges and new opportunities. I am confident that the world we are staying will be becoming better and nicer through our joint efforts to build with the rest of the world together.

Now may I close my remarks by proposing a toast:       

to the continuous prosperity of the People's Republic of China,

to the growing friendship and cooperation between China and Antigua and Barbuda,

to the health and happiness of every dear friend present tonight,

And to the further development of Antigua and Barbuda,

Cheers!

Thank you.