KUCHING: Consul-General of China in Kuching, Cheng Guangzhong, talked about China’s rise from an impoverished and weak country to a prosperous and powerful nation, respected by the world. At a dinner hosted by his Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching yesterday in conjunction with China’s National Day, Cheng highlighted the close ties with Malaysia, in particular Sarawak.
The following are excerpts of speech.
First of all, on behalf of the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Kuching, I would like to extend my warmest welcome and heartfelt gratitude to all the distinguished guests here for your presence at our National Day reception.
The recent half month witnessed many important occasions of China and Malaysia. September 13 is the traditional mid-autumn festival of China, September 16 is Malaysia Day, and October 1 is China National Day.
The year 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of People’s Republic of China. Someone asked me, what has changed in China in the past seven decades? Let’s take a look at the different scenarios of China 70 years ago and China now to make a comparison.
In 1949, at the beginning of the founding of People’s Republic of China, the whole country was impoverished and devastated. China was once the so-called “sick man of east Asia” and “hungry country”.
At that time, China’s economic situation was extremely severe, with a GDP of $12.3 billion and a per capita GDP of just $23. China was a backward agricultural country with extremely under-developed industries; we couldn’t even produce a car or an airplane at that time. People suffered from lack of food and insufficient supply of clothes, matches and other daily necessities.
Over the past 70 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Chinese people have worked hard with unity and perseverance, carried out reforms and innovation, overcome various difficulties and have scored outstanding accomplishments.
China’s GDP increased from $12.3 billion in 1949 to $13.6 trillion in 2018, and the per capita GDP increased from $23 to $9,800. China has grown into the world’s second largest economy, the largest industrial manufacturer, the largest trader of goods, and the largest holder of foreign exchange reserves.
China’s grain output increased from 113 million tons in 1949 to 658 million tons in 2018. With 9 per cent of the world’s farmable land, China manages to feed nearly 20 percent of the world’s population.
More than 700 million people in China have been lifted out of poverty, contributing over 70 per cent to global poverty reduction. The average life expectancy of residents increased from 35 years to 77 years.
Chinese miracle
Chinese people no longer worry about lack of food or dress anymore, we are more concerned about how to lose weight and keep fit nowadays. Life gets so much better and happier.
Over the past 70 years, the hard-working and talented Chinese people have created one Chinese miracle after another. China’s railway mileage has increased from 21,800km to 131,000km, and its high-speed railway has reached 29,000km, accounting for more than 60 percent of world’s total high-speed rail.
China has more than 1.3 billion mobile broadband users. Big data, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence and other modern information technologies are developing rapidly.
China’s science and technology is advancing by leaps and bounds, with many successes in the fields of lunar exploration, deep-sea exploration, super-computing, satellite navigation, etc.
Over the past 70 years, China has moved closer to the centre of the world stage. While doing a good job in its own development, China has actively participated in global governance, contributed its wisdom and demonstrated its responsibility as a major country.
China is a major contributor to global economic growth, contributing about 30 per cent annually in recent years. China has put forward the “One Belt and One Road” initiative and other major initiatives, and become a major contributor to global governance, trade liberalisation and an open world economy.
Ready to work with Malaysia
China’s “One Belt and One Road” initiative has received support from 166 countries, regions and international organisations, including Malaysia. We are ready to work with Malaysia and other countries in the world to expand common interests through opening-up and share opportunities through cooperation.
I’ve listed only a few achievements of China’s development in the past seven decades. These vivid facts and figures are enough to illustrate the changes in China over the past 70 years.
From 1949 to 2019, China has grown from an impoverished and weak country to a prosperous and powerful nation. The Chinese people have risen from misery and become richer and stronger, we will be even more stronger in the future.
China’s accomplishment in the recent 70 years wipes out her humiliation in modern history, writing a glorious chapter in history of human civilisation.
As a Chinese, I am extremely proud of China’s development and progress, and I have full confidence in the bright future of the great renewal of the Chinese nation.
The year 2019 also marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia, and the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Chinese Consulate General in Kuching.
Malaysia is the first Asean country to establish diplomatic relations with China. Over the past 45 years, China-Malaysia friendly cooperative relations have achieved long-term development.
Enhanced ties
Malaysia has been China’s largest trading partner among Asean countries for 10 consecutive years. In 2018, the trade volume between China and Malaysia reached more than $100 billion.
The friendship between China and Malaysia has become deeper with more close cooperation, which has brought tangible benefits to the economic and social development of the two countries and the well-being of our people, setting a good example for cooperation between our Asian neighbours.
As the first consulate office of China in Malaysia, the Chinese Consulate General in Kuching opened in 1994. The past 25 years have witnessed frequent high-level exchanges, with fruitful cooperation in trade, agriculture, manufacturing, energy, digital economy, tourism and culture, etc.
The Chinese people and the Sarawak people have reached new heights of mutual understanding, cooperation and closeness. In 2018, the trade volume between China and Sarawak exceeded $4.6 billion, and our mutual investment has been increasing.
So far this year, China’s investment and intended investment in Sarawak has reached $8 billion. There are 25 friendship cities between China and Sarawak, the latest one is friendship relations between Dongcheng district in Beijing and MBKS.
There’s an old saying in China, “Food is the order of the day”, there are many gourmets in China and Sarawak. The Mulu Restaurant opened by a Sarawak enterprise in Beijing’s Wangfujing street attracts more and more Chinese customers, and Chinese food in 101 food court is popular among Sarawak people.
I’ve lived in Sarawak for one and a half year and witnessed the closer personnel exchanges and deeper friendship between China and Sarawak.
My high appreciation goes to the Sarawak government for its tremendous efforts and remarkable achievement in promoting the beneficial cooperation between China and Sarawak.
The Governor of Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, and Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg attach great importance to cooperation between China and Sarawak.
In 2019, a number of delegations from Fujian, Yunnan and other parts of China have visited Sarawak. They are very interested in Sarawak’s agricultural products such as stingless bee honey, durian, etc and look forward to deepening agricultural cooperation in the future.
From January to August this year, the China delegation I received exceeds the whole number of last year. I feel exhausted sometimes, but with joy and happiness because the comprehensive cooperation between China and Sarawak keeps good momentum.
Some of my Sarawak friends told me that Sarawak should not export too many durians to China, or the durian price in Sarawak will rise.
I said I have a suggestion that benefits both sides. You could suggest that the Chief Minister, and Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah plant more durian trees in Sarawak.
The great achievements of the People’s Republic of China could not have been made without the valuable contributions of overseas Chinese, including Malaysian Chinese. And the progress of China-Malaysia relations could not have been possible without the dedication of Chinese community in Sarawak.
The China Consulate General in Kuching will, as always, support Chinese communities in Sarawak and hope you will continue to support China-Malaysia cooperation.
I believe that with our joint efforts, the mutual beneficial cooperation between China and Sarawak will rise to a new level.
Thank you!
