Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Good day to you all!
Thank you all for being here at this online reception marking my assumption of office. This reception also serves as a celebration for the Chinese New Year, which is just around corner in 4 days.
This will be my first Chinese New Year spent in Malaysia. Before coming to Malaysia, I have already heard that the Chinese New Year festivities in Malaysia are extraordinary.
Red lanterns are glimmering with happiness over many locations in KL. Holiday goods are eagerly waiting to be purchased by joyful families in every shopping mall. Let alone the famous Lou-Sang and Tangerine tossing.
However, this Chinese New Year is extraordinary in a different way. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people cannot reunite with their families on this very important holiday. Healthcare workers, police officers and other front-liners are still holding their positions, day and night.
Despite the fact that we are not able to visit and gather with our friends in person, we still carry on the good wishes and expectations for the coming new year.
So, on behalf of the Chinese embassy in Malaysia, I would like to extend my best wishes to all of you. And through you, I would like to extend my best wishes to all the people who support China-Malaysia friendship. I would also like to express my utmost respect and gratitude to the front-liners fighting against the pandemic.
我还特别要向在马的中资机构、留学生以及其他中国公民说一句，不论你身在何处，使馆永远是你们的家。
Ladies and gentlemen,
China and Malaysia are good neighbors and friends. Our relations have stood the trial of time. No matter how the world changes, our leaders always regard China-Malaysia relations as a priority. And our leaders have also played a leading role in the development of the bilateral relations.
The mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Malaysia has been growing rapidly. We share lots of common interests that are closely intertwined.
I have assumed office for more than a month now. Due to the pandemic, I could only resort to video chat to call on friends in government, companies, local communities and think tanks.
Although my friends and I are divided by the monitors, I am still deeply touched by everyone’s affinity towards China. I am also greatly encouraged that people I met are all confident and determined to promote China-Malaysia cooperation.
In the past year, we were facing an unprecedented pandemic and a world more complicated than ever. However, China and Malaysia have helped and supported each other. And we have overcome the adversities together.
Our two governments and peoples have shared experiences on pandemic prevention and control. We have donated medical supplies to each other. We have cooperated on pandemic prevention and vaccine development. Through our concrete actions, we have shown the world how China and Malaysia shared weal and woe like brothers.
Even during the pandemic, our high-level visits remained uninterrupted. Malaysia successfully held the APEC 2020. Upon the invitation from Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Chinese president Xi Jinping attended the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting last November online. Together, our leaders have sent out the positive signals of upholding an open and free trade, and jointly promoting stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
Last year, Chinese Minister of Defense and State Councilor Wei Fenghe, Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi visited Malaysia in succession. And they reached with the Malaysian side important consensuses on China-Malaysia cooperation.
Despite the downward pressure from global economy and challenges posed by the pandemic, China and Malaysia have together safeguarded the sound development of our economic cooperation.
In 2020, our bilateral trade volume and total investment have both bucked the trend and achieved growth. China has been the largest trading partner of Malaysia for 12 consecutive years, and is expected to be the largest FDI source in manufacture sector for 5 consecutive years.
Moreover, together with 13 other countries, China and Malaysia have signed the RCEP, pushing strong energy to the economic recovery and growth for both China and Malaysia.
At this crucial stage, as the 16th Ambassador of China to Malaysia with glorious mission and great duty, I will do my utmost to advance China-Malaysia friendship and cooperation, and scale the bilateral relations to new heights. I do hope to continue to count on support from every one of you in my tenure.
Ladies and gentlemen,
A new year brings a new beginning. In the year ahead, both China and Malaysia share a difficult task to contain the virus, boost the economy and protect people’s livelihood, and share a good wish to overcome the pandemic and embrace a new life as well.
Despite the impact of the pandemic, China becomes the first major economy worldwide to achieve positive economic growth, which is a strong boost for a stable global supply chain and the world economic recovery.
This year marks the beginning of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan. China will implement the new development vision and foster a new development pattern with domestic circulation as the mainstay and domestic and international circulations reinforcing each other. China will scale up openness and cooperation, and share more development opportunities and benefits with the rest of the world.
I hope China and Malaysia would continue to stand firmly with each other to fight against the pandemic and economic recession, and the pandemic will be defeated at an early date.
It is also hoped that, in the post-COVID-19 era, China and Malaysia could strengthen the traditional cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, tourism, infrastructure development and personnel exchanges, etc. We could make steady progress in furthering the Belt and Road Initiative, and explore the full potential of our cooperation in emerging fields including digital economy and advanced technologies. All these efforts will give further opportunities to our developments and bring more benefits to our peoples.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We’ll soon usher in the Year of the Ox. In traditional Chinese culture, ox stands for diligence, selfless dedication, harvest and prosperity.
Let’s wish China and Malaysia as well as our bilateral relations more prosperous every day in the year of the Ox. Let’s wish the two countries flourish and our two people live in peace. Let’s wish you all an auspicious year of the Ox with good health and good luck. 牛运亨通、牛年大吉！
Thank you all!