2021 is the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and this October 1st marks the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 7 decades, under the strong leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have successfully opened the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and have made development achievements that are the marvel of the world. When the new China founded in 1949, it was a backward agricultural country with a per capita national income of only 27 U.S. dollars. In 2021, China has become the second largest big economy, with a per capita GDP more than 10,000 U.S. dollars. It is also the world’s largest trader in goods, the second largest foreign investor and consumer market, contributing 30% to the world economic growth. China’s economy has increased 189 times during this period.
The path determines future. China’s success hinges on the CPC. Over seventy years are a fleeting moment in human history. However, it is a period when the Chinese nation has achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. The 100-year-long history of the Party, and the more than 70-year-long history of the People’s Republic of China all provide ample evidence that without the Communist Party of China, there would be no new China and no national rejuvenation. The General Secretary Xi Jinping declared at the ceremony marking the centenary of the CPC that through the continued efforts of the whole Party and the entire nation, China has realized the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. China has brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty and are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects.
China has 1.4 billion population, including a middle-income group of more than 400 million people. The fact that this biggest developing country is accelerating toward modernization is itself a milestone of human development, and in particular China's active contribution to the progress of the world. We will remain committed to the path of peaceful development, and work to build a new type of international relations and a human community with a shared future. We will promote high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative through joint efforts, and use China’s new achievements in development to provide the world with new opportunities. It will definitely make the world a better place.
Since Last year, COVID-19 is raging in the world, and profound changes are taking place in human society. Facing with the pandemic, China has adopted the most comprehensive, rigorous and thorough measures to prevent and control the disease, and has always taken on its responsibilities, cooperated with the international community. President Xi Jinping put forward the major initiative of building a global community of health for all as early as in March 2020, pointing the way forward for China's participation in global cooperation against COVID-19 and building the consensus that the international community should fight the virus in solidarity. As of early September, China has provided more than 200 countries and jurisdictions with supplies and also facilitated purchases of anti-virus products, which totaled to 320 billion masks, 3.9 billion protective suits and 5.6 billion testing kits. On the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Xi Jinping stressed that we need to make vaccines a global public good. China will strive to provide a total of two billion doses of vaccines to the world by the end of this year. In addition to donating 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX, China will donate 100 million doses of vaccines to other developing countries in the course of this year. China will continue to support and engage in global science-based origins tracing, and stands firmly opposed to political maneuvering in whatever form. China will continue to make contributions within its capacity to the global COVID-19 response and sustainable economic recovery.
I am also happy to see the vaccinations in Dutch Caribbean is generally smooth. I appreciate that all islands have included local Chinese citizens in their vaccination program. The Chinese Consulate General cooperates with the governments and encourages local overseas Chinese to vaccinate and contribute to epidemic control. Take Curacao, where the consulate is based, as an example, it is preliminarily known that more than 90% of local Chinese in relevant age groups have completed the vaccination. I believe that through joint efforts, all islands will be able to get rid of the epidemic as soon and the economic and social development be back on track.
Finally, I wish the People's Republic of China prosperity and wish the Chinese and Dutch Caribbean people health and happiness!
Li Yigang
Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Willemstad