Ambassador Zhang Yuanyuan's Speech at National Conference of New Zealand China Friendship Society,
Masterton, 17 May 2008
Members of the New Zealand China Friendship Society,
Vice President Li Xiaolin and officials of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries,
Vice Chairman Zhu Shaoyi and officials from the Liaoning Provincial People's Congress,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First, I want you to forgive me for not being able to join you in your official opening yesterday.
More than four days have passed since the powerful earthquake in Sichuan struck. We have been following the agonizing aftermath as well as the unbelievable efforts of the Chinese people to cope with it. As of this morning, the national death toll stands at 22069 with 21577 in Sichuan alone. The tough terrain, heavy rain and the terrible landslides that cut off roads to the epicentre made rescue, especially in the first and the most precious 72 hours, very, very difficult. But we refused to give up and abandon anyone. Rescuers working around the clock have created miracles time and again by finding survivors buried under rubbles for 80, 90 and even over 100 hours. Let me give you a quick report: a quake measured 7.8 magnitude, bigger and more destructive than the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, ravaged an area of 100 thousand square kilometres with some 20 million people directly affected; More than 120 thousand troops were called up to help. They are supported by 30 transport planes, 90 helicopters, 20 thousand medical workers, tens of thousands volunteers, and some foreign rescue teams. Premier Wen is the commander in chief of the relief efforts. The whole country is being mobilized to raise funds for the victims. Here in New Zealand, I have received countless messages of sympathy from Kiwi friends, the New Zealand government has offered half a million dollars in aid through the Red Cross, business firms have given money and relief materials and Chinese communities cash donations, to the disaster areas in China. I want to take this opportunity to thank them all for their goodwill, their generosity and the spirit of solidarity they demonstrated in these dark hours of national bereavement.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am always happy to be with you at your National Conference, this time in Masterton. I am particularly happy to see so many New Zealand friends, old and new, and so many fellow countrymen from China. Since our last conference in Nelson, we have had an exciting and productive year. In addition to our regular activities, we have worked together to mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-NZ diplomatic relations, with exchange of naval port calls, gala cultural performances and official commemorative meetings. We have celebrated the 110th anniversary of Rewi Alley with emotional trips to his NZ hometown of Springfield and his adopted hometown Shandan in China's Gansu Province. What is more, we have worked together to bring the relationship to a new high by concluding the bilateral free trade agreement on time, making NZ the first developed country to have a FTA with China. As Premier Wen told Prime Minister Helen Clark during her recent trip to China, NZ is a good friend and good partner of China. I fully agree with this assessment. And I am sure my Chinese friends here will substantiate it too with stories of their own folks back home.
Ladies and Gentlemen, as China's ambassador in NZ, I always take it as my bounden duty to promote understanding and friendship between the two countries and two peoples. In that endeavour, I always look to you, members of the Friendship Society, not only for support, but also ideas and suggestions that could make my job more effective. For all these years, I have participated in your branches' activities, exchanged views with your leaders, and rub shoulders with the rank and file at numerous occasions. I am convinced that the Society is not just another group interested in China, but one that, because of a genuine love and friendship towards the Chinese people, is ready to go through thick and thin, with them.
So, let me take a few moments to brief you on China's recent developments which I think are important to understanding of China, while trying to answer some of your questions.
First, China will stick to reform and opening up. China's reform and opening up program will turn 30 years old this year. What had begun as adjustments of government rural policies evolved gradually into a sweeping economic and social transformation that touches every aspect of people's life in China, with obvious far-reaching impact on to the world.
Thanks to an average annual growth rate of 9.7% in GDP, China is now the world's 4th largest economy, 3rd largest trader and a key engine for world economic growth. Last year, China's contribution to world growth was 17%, surpassing the US for the first time. China's contribution to world trade growth was comparable to that of the US. A total of 2.17 trillion US dollars of trade was conducted between China and the rest of the world. In the next few years, China's import will top one trillion US dollars a year, providing huge opportunities to its trade partners. In fact, China encourages its trade partners, Western countries in particular, to step up export to China, for a persistent trade surplus is not in China's long-term interests. Against this background, we see the China-NZ FTA as something beyond bilateral domain. It is a renewal of commitment to free trade, a declaration against rising protectionism, and a show of courage and self-confidence in time of challenges.
Second, China will go for peaceful development. China's rise has been a familiar subject of debate nowadays. At the 17th Party Congress last October, President Hu expounded on the peaceful development of China. Our answer to the alarmist talks in the West is this: China wants to develop itself by promoting world peace, and to maintain world peace through its own development; China wants to see the benefits of its development shared with the rest of the world and its newfound strength pooled in tackling formidable global challenges. Chinese leaders have stated on many occasions, most recently in President Hu's visit to Japan that China will never seek hegemony and will never pursue territorial expansion. This position of ours comes from our strategic analysis of our changing world, which has seen the promotion of peace, development and cooperation the irresistible trends. When people see China work tirelessly with international community to address such difficult issues as nuclear threat in Korean Peninsula and Iran, crisis in Darfur and Myanmar, and to seek solutions to climate change and a multitude of other global challenges, they should conclude for themselves that China is a force making for a peaceful and stable world, and that China's development is a good thing and should be welcomed with open arms.
Unfortunately, what we see sometimes is that China bashing has become a fashion in some quarters, such as some Western media giants. Perhaps they believe they are judges for the whole world. But I know their unwarranted attacks on China can only serve to alienate themselves from the Chinese people, the youth in particular, and make a mockery of the values they are supposed to protect.
Third, China has opted for a scientific approach to development. Also known as scientific outlook for development, this new approach, affirmed at the 17th Party Congress, calls for emphatic recognition of the role of the people. The people are the ultimate purpose of development, the people must be relied on in achieving development, and the people must be brought to fully enjoy the benefit of development. Moreover, development should not be limited to economic sphere but be given great scope to include political, social, cultural and ecological spheres. Furthermore, development should be pursued in a coordinated way with a view to striking a balance among the various aspects and links. Finally, development must be sustainable with adequate attention to conservation of resources and protection of the environment. The new approach, in a way, provides a key to understanding China's future development. The tasks facing China are in fact not so much different from other countries. All must find answers to balancing efficiency with justice, market with society, and growth with stability and the environment. When I heard our leaders discussing how the two countries could cooperate in tackling China's serious air pollution, I knew we had found a new front to give it a try of our best-known "Gung Ho" spirit.
Ladies and Gentlemen, despite impressive progress, we have no reason to be complacent. For perhaps another decade or two, China will remain a developing country. Our per capita GDP now is only a little fraction of that of New Zealand. By 2020, the year we set to complete the building of a Xiaokang (moderately prosperous) society, our per capita GDP will still be less than 5000 US dollar.
But compared with the economic and social difficulties, China faces a far more challenging environment in world politics and international court of opinions. It is not surprising that elements hostile to China would seize every opportunity to disrupt whatever China does or tries to do. But to have so many political and media heavyweight attacking China over such noble and innocuous things as Olympic torch relay, has caught the Chinese people, Chinese communities overseas, Chinese students and friends of China around the world by complete surprise and total disbelief. The Beijing Olympics is not a Chinese event, not a political event, not some kind of last-ditch battle for narrow-minded pursuits. It is, as it should be, a sports meet, and a carnival for athletes all over the world. We must guard against any attempt to politicise Olympic Games at the expense of thousands of hardworking sports men and women.
While we are on this subject, let me give you a few figures on the Beijing Olympic Games. So far, 205 national and regional Olympic committees have pledged their participation in the Games, which is a historical high. Over 100 heads of state or government and members of royal families have confirmed their attendance of the opening ceremony. We will leave each of your branches today a DVD China has prepared with the American PBS on the details of Beijing's preparations.
Kiwi's love of sports is legendary. I have recently participated in some functions by New Zealand Olympic Committee and sports communities and been quite impressed by their high level of readiness and devotion. I wished them luck and more medals than expected. I know China and New Zealand will meet in a football elimination match at the Games. I will be happy whoever wins it.
Finally, let me wish conference a complete success.
Thank you.