Speech by H.E. Yang Zigang,

Chinese Ambassador to the State of Eritrea at the Gala Gathering with

Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

New Era, Deeper Friendship, Greater Achievements

(December 28, 2018, Asmara)

 

Distinguished Minister Osman Saleh,

Dear colleagues and friends,

Ladies and gentlemen,

 

A very warm welcome to all of you!

 

It is a real pleasure to have so many friends joining us tonight in this happy gathering of the embassy and the ministry!

 

Time really flies. Our gathering last year at the old embassy is like an event that just happened yesterday. This is the first special gathering between us since I and my colleagues moved to this new embassy compound in May. And I'm glad to host all of you with a more spacious and better equipped venue.

 

2018 has been a tremendous year for Eritrea, a year that is full of progress and breakthroughs. From the courageous steps taken by President Isaias and Prime Minister Abiy to the epoch-making normalization of bilateral relations between Eritrea and Ethiopia, from the sweeping trend of peace and friendship in the Horn of Africa to the lifting of UN sanctions against Eritrea, all these events have made the year remarkable for Eritrea as well as this region.

 

It is important to recognize the immense contribution Eritrea has made in making these possible. President Isaias, Minister Osman and all the colleagues from the Foreign Ministry are at the central position for that endeavor. Please allow me to take this opportunity to express my sincere congratulations to the Eritrean government and the people!

 

And I want to reiterate that China welcomes these positive developments and stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in promotion of peace, stability and prosperity of the whole region.

 

Dear friends,

 

This year marks the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up of China. For China, the past 40 years has been a marvelous journey. The Chinese people have made relentless and concerted efforts and unswerving dedication. No pains, no gains. Everything paid off. Today's China has become much stronger than before. Chinese people think that reform and opening-up is China's approach and dynamic of achieving national development goals.

 

In the current world with increasing instabilities and uncertainties, China will further deepen reform and opening-up, uphold the open world economy and multilateral trade regime, and oppose protectionism and unilateralism. China will continue to forge global economic and trade partnerships by pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative. In the international affairs, China will support the developing countries including Eritrea in having a greater representation and a stronger voice. China will shoulder more responsibilities for world peace, stability and economic growth.

 

China's policy to Africa will focus on letting mutual respect, fairness and justice, sincerity, win-win cooperation and common development prevail. During the following 3 years, China will work shoulder to shoulder with our African partners to implement cooperation plans outlined in the FOCAC Beijing Summit this September.

 

At FOCAC Beijing Summit, President Xi announced the "FIVE-NO" approach in dealing with Africa. NO interference in African countries' pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; NO interference in African countries' internal affairs; NO imposition of our will on African countries; NO attachment of political preconditions to economic assistance to Africa; and NO seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa. In sharp contrast to some countries, China will never seek hegemony or geopolitical calculations in Africa.

 

Dear friends,

 

Over the past 25 years, China and Eritrea have marched forward as intimate brothers, sincere friends and good partners. Our relationship is based on similar revolutionary experience, similar societal values and profound people-to-people friendship. From this perspective, it is fundamentally different from other relationships and is incomparable to any other country.

 

I'd like to take this chance to express my heart-felt gratitude to Minister Osman and all the friends present here tonight, for your consistent understanding and strong support for China in international and regional affairs and in advancing our bilateral ties in the past year. These positive and firm actions testify once again that we are truly reliable partners.

 

I'm convinced that through our joint efforts, we can seize cooperation opportunities and create a new Golden Era of China-Eritrea partnership, achieve more fruitful win-win results and let the peoples share more development benefits. Working together, we can make tomorrow a better day!

 

Last but not least, on behalf of all my colleagues of the embassy, let me wish all of you a very happy, peaceful and prosperous new year!

 

Thank you all! Yekenyeley!