H.E. Franklyn Richards, Lieutenant Governor and Mrs. Richards,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening,
I am Chen Ligang, Ambassador of China to Antigua and Barbuda. Because of nearness to St. Maaten from Antigua, my govt. asked my embassy to take care of the consulate matters concerning the overseas Chinese staying in this inland. So as a beginning I would be on behalf of Embassy of China and also in my own name to express our sincere thanks to the St. Maarten govt. and officials from different departments for your support to and cooperation with the Embassy on the consulate affairs in here in the past years.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Sixty years ago four days before, the People's Republic of China was founded in the Far East. Some people then were suspicious of whether China could make itself survival with a population of 450 million to feed. And the answer today is clear.
Sixty years ago, the peoples' life expectancy in China was 35 years, now up to 73. 60 years ago, people's illiteracy rate was 80% high, and now only 1% and even less, and 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 a 35 times increase to an amount of U.S.D.3300. Hungary now we are not, and a decent life approaching to we are.
The story of individual life is only one aspect. The country as a whole shows more spectacular one. China now is ranked third largest world economy and second largest trading country in the world, and holds the largest foreign exchange reserve in the globe. What's more, since 2007 China became a country providing the biggest drive to the growth of the world economy, particularly in the global recession in 2008 and 2009, China's drive to pulling the world to growth by 20% in contribution measurement.
China has taken draconian change. But there goes a proverb that every coin has two sides. And China is no exception. Next year will see the second largest world economy in the country of China. This might surprise many in the world. But please remember China has a population of 1.3 billion people. Anything divided by 1.3 billion is very small. The almost second largest world economy divided by the larges population in the world betrays that China's per capita GDP is ranked only 106th among all the countries in the world according Pew Research Centre of the United States. 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 has been inextricably related with outside world. St. Maarten is one among the many countries and regions that have given cooperation with China. Today I am here sent by Chinese govt. to attend this celebrative occasion and also to convey our appreciation of the St. Maarten authority for your understanding to and cooperation with China. One thing is evident. Without your support, the success of those overseas Chinese wouldn't have been made possible.
For the overseas Chinese in St. Maarten, I would challenge you to work diligently, become more successful and stand ready to share your fortune to the indigenous people. A motto prevails in this island calling on people to have a unification idea, that is different culture, different people, but one country. Those jointed the nationality of Dutch should be doing so for the common good of the every ethnic group of people in here. Those still hold Chinese nationality should be actively engaged in the main-stream society of different public activities with charitable business in particular. Your positive involvement in the contribution to the society will in return make you better off in business doings.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The world is changing, and the times are different. Looking to the future, I am optimistic that based on where we are by each endeavoring and all achieving, we can make tomorrow's world better and nicer. The only things we are required of doing are devotion, contribution and cooperation.
In closing, may I propose a toast:
to the continuous prosperity of the People's Republic of China,
to the growing friendship and cooperation between China and St. Maarten,
to the health and success of every friend present here tonight,
Cheers!
Thank you.
