Let me begin by extending, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, sincere welcome to all of you attending the China Conference for International Friendship and the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Today is the Double Ninth Festival, a traditional Chinese festival. It is a festival symbolizing respect for the elderly and reunion. It gives me great pleasure to be here with you and talk about our friendship.

Amity between the people holds the key to state-to-state relations. Friendship between peoples is the foundation for stable and sustained international relations, an inexhaustible driving force for world peace and development, and a basic prerequisite for win-win cooperation. All of you present here have long been committed to the cause of friendship with China and are good and old friends of the Chinese people. I highly appreciate the fact that you have travelled thousands of miles and crossed mountains and oceans for the great cause of friendship between the people.

The world is once again at the crossroads of history. In the face of the issue of our times, "What kind of world should we build and how should we build it?", I propose the Chinese answer to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Under the century-old changes, the world is closely linked and mankind shares a common destiny. The future of the world depends on the choices made by people of all countries.

A foreign friend once said to me, "Friendship is a very important thing. Only a world of friendship can be a world of peace." It is the trickle of friendship between peoples that has created a mighty force for world peace and development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Ten days ago, we just held a grand celebration. Over the past 75 years, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in achieving national independence and liberation. After years of hard work, we have built a moderately prosperous society in all respects on the land of China, made remarkable achievements in development, and embarked on a path of modernization that not only develops ourselves but also benefits the world.

Looking back, China's achievements in all aspects could not have been achieved without the support of people around the world. A large number of foreign friends have traveled thousands of miles to China and worked together with the Chinese people through thick and thin. A large number of foreign companies, institutions and individuals have taken an active part in China's socialist modernization drive. This has not only achieved mutual benefit for all parties, but also made important contribution to promoting friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries. We will always remember their important contributions to China's development and their sincere friendship with the Chinese people.

People are the creators of history, and building a community with a shared future for mankind is where the future of the people of all countries lies. China is ready to strengthen friendly exchanges with friends around the world, give full play to the unique role of people-to-people diplomacy, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

First, in the spirit of "working together", we should build broad consensus on building a community with a shared future for mankind. People of all countries, living in the same home on the same earth, are one family and should work together to cope with the ever-changing international situation and emerging global challenges. The ancients of China said "pull together in times of trouble", and now the international community needs to "pull together in times of trouble". China always believes that the general direction of human development and progress will not change, the logic of the tortuous progress of world history will not change, and the general trend of the international community will not change. China is ready to work with other countries to promote the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind, build consensus among people of different ethnic groups, beliefs, cultures and regions, advocate an equal and orderly multi-polar world and economic globalization that benefits all, and build the earth we live on into a big family of peace, harmony and harmony.

Second, we need to pool strong synergy to build a community with a shared future for mankind in the spirit of win-win cooperation. The Communist Party of China seeks happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, as well as progress for mankind and common ground for the world. I have put forward the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, the global development Initiative, the global security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative to promote the building of a better world and create a better life for people of all countries. The concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind over the past decade or so has brought us many inspirations. One of the most important is that only through win-win cooperation can we achieve good things and great things. China does not pursue modernization alone, and we welcome more foreign friends to actively participate in the Chinese-style modernization process. In the spirit of win-win cooperation, China will continue to provide new opportunities for world development with its new achievements in modernization, and work with all parties to realize a world modernization featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity, so as to bring more benefits to people of all countries.

Third, with an open and inclusive mind, we need to draw a picture of civilization and promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. "All living things grow together without harming each other, and paths run parallel without contradicting each other." Harmony without uniformity is the law governing the occurrence and development of all things, as well as the law governing the spread and development of human civilization. Exchanges and mutual learning are essential requirements for the development of civilizations. They are also an important driving force for the progress of human civilization and world peace and development. The Chinese civilization is an open system formed through constant exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations, and it has grown stronger through inclusiveness. The Chinese nation is open and inclusive, and the Chinese people are kind and friendly. China is ready to work with all parties to implement the Global civilization Initiative, promote the concept of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, enhance mutual understanding and deepen friendship through sincere communication, and move the world toward a community of shared future by transcending estrangement and clash of civilizations through exchanges and mutual learning.

Friendship between the people lies in mutual understanding. People-to-people connectivity is the most basic, solid and lasting connectivity. The Chinese government will, as always, support the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries in playing its unique role in developing friendship between the Chinese and foreign peoples and promoting international practical cooperation. To build more Bridges for people-to-people exchanges, unite friends from all over the world and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. To build more Bridges for practical cooperation, pool the strength of all parties, and jointly participate in the Chinese style of modernization; To build more Bridges for people-to-people exchanges and encourage people of all countries to work together as promoters of mutual learning between civilizations and people-to-people exchanges. To build more Bridges for youth friendship, inspire the young generation, and work together to carry forward the cause of people's friendship.

The CPC is a party that serves the people, the Chinese government is the people's government, and China's diplomacy is the people's diplomacy. People-to-people diplomacy is the basic work of enhancing friendship between peoples and promoting the development of state-to-state relations. China is ready to work with friends from all over the world to deepen friendship between the two peoples and build a better world for our future generations.

Source: Chinese government website