Honorable Mr. Andreas Vyras, Mayor of Larnaca,
Honorable Mr. Panagiotis Antoniou, Chairman of the Educational Service Commission,
Mr. Chris Michael and Mr. Che Huali, organizers of the event,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Kalispera! Today is the 10th day of the Year of the Snake. It gives me great pleasure to join such a galaxy of friends here for the Chinese New Year Gala Dinner. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus, I would like to extend festive greetings to all of you. May the wisdom, agility and resilience of the snake guide us through another rewarding year!
In Chinese culture, the Spring Festival symbolizes peace, harmony and inclusiveness. It carries people’s respect for nature, yearning for family reunion, and hope for a better life. This year’s Spring Festival is particularly special —— it is the first of kind since the Spring Festival was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In this sense, this festival not only belongs to China, but also to the whole world, including Cyprus.
I was moved to see that China Red was lit up at the city center of Larnaca, Nicosia and Limassol during the Spring Festival. This is a clear example of the appreciation of Chinese culture and the respect for cultural diversity in this country. This also fully demonstrates the profound friendship between our two countries and peoples.
I am aware that many of you are very interested in China. In 2024, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of New China. At its Third Plenary Session, the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China sounded a clarion call for further deepening all-round reform.
Over the past year, we have adopted a full range of policies to make solid gains in pursuing high-quality development. The Chinese economy made steady progress while maintaining overall stability. China’s GDP grew by five percent, one of the fastest among major economies.
We have fostered new quality productive forces. New business sectors, forms and models have kept emerging. For the first time, China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year. Breakthroughs have been made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields. My friends, despite headwinds, China has grown stronger, and without doubt, China will grow from strength to strength.
It needs to be pointed out that while pursuing its own development, China has also contributed to the whole world. The greater good of the international community is always on our mind. Building a community with a shared future for mankind is our key objective. We are fully aware that openness rather than isolation, win-win cooperation rather than selfish gains, can serve the interests of all.
In this context, China has actively pursued major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics, and provided much-needed stability to a turbulent world. In such a spirit, we have worked closely with Cypriot friends to break new ground in the China-Cyprus strategic partnership.
Over the past year, President Xi Jinping and President Christodoulides have maintained sound interactions through correspondence. President Christodoulides also met Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. In addition, President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou paid a very successful visit to China. Such high-level engagements have set the our strategic partnership on a sound and solid track.
It is worth mentioning that China and Cyprus have, as always, firmly supported each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, with the one-China principle and the one-Cyprus principle being the strong foundation of bilateral ties. China has never shied away from speaking out for Cyprus on the Cyprus problem at the UN Security Council and other international fora. Meanwhile, Cyprus has openly and resolutely reaffirmed its position on the Taiwan question. It has also played a constructive role in China-EU relations.
The past year has seen all-round progress in China-Cyprus exchanges and cooperation. In 2024, our bilateral trade surpassed 1.15 billion USD, making China Cyprus’ third-largest trading partner. Chinese companies are supporting the digital and green transformation of Cyprus, while Cyprus businesses are further tapping the massive Chinese market. The signing of civil aviation cooperation documents and China’s visa-free policy for Cyprus have facilitated our people-to-people exchanges.
Importantly, subnational exchanges between China and Cyprus have been booming. In September 2023, we established the China-Cyprus Sister City Alliance, covering eight Chinese cities and four Cypriot cities, including Larnaca. This mechanism has built an extensive network and helped pool the collective strengths of sister city cooperation. Under this framework, many activities have been held, including the China-Cyprus Youth Exchange Week and the Third China-Cyprus Youth Forum, bringing the people of the two countries even closer together.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
As changes unseen in a century accelerate across the world, it is important to rise above estrangement and conflict with a broad vision, and care for the future of humanity with great passion. In the new year, China will continue to work with all countries to promote friendship and cooperation, enhance mutual learning among different cultures, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.
To conclude, I once again wish all of you a happy year of the snake! May China, Cyprus and all our countries prosper! May our peoples be full of joy and well-being! Thank you!
