October 1st 2005 is the 56th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On the auspicious occasion, I would like to extend my warmest blessings to my motherland's greater advancement and prosperity, and my best wishes for the time-tested Sino-Bangladesh friendship to last forever.

Since its birth in 1949, and particularly since the implementation of reform and opening-up program pioneered by Mr. Deng Xiaoping in 1978, great changes have taken place in China. In a short span of 26 years, China's GDP increased from less than US$150 billion to US$1.65 trillion with an average annual growth rate of 9.4% and per capita GDP grew from US$190 to over US$1,200. Its foreign trade rose from US$ 20.6 billion to US$ 1.16 trillion, averaging an annual growth rate of over 16%. Its share of the world economy risen from some 1% to nearly 4%, and it has been elevated to the third place in global trade. China's foreign exchange reserve increased from US$ 167 million to US$ 710 billion. The number of rural poor has dwindled from some 250 million to 26 million. The overall national strength of China has increased remarkably and the texture of life of its people improved steadily.

Facts have proven that China's development not only benefits the 1.3 billion Chinese people, but contributes to economic growth in Asia and the world as a whole. About 20% of the global growth in 2004 was owed to China's contribution. China's development also spurs progress of human civilizations, enriches diversity of the world and promotes peace and stability in regions and around the world. By successfully feeding, clothing and sheltering one fifth of the world's population, China has made an important contribution to the stability and development in the world. China's development is an opportunity instead of a threat to the world.

At the same time, we are fully aware of the fact that China's huge population, weak economic foundation, uneven development of its different regions, and the per capita GDP level that ranks well behind 100th place in the world means numerous problems, difficulties and challenges in our road to progress. China still has a long way to go before it realizes modernization and delivers a prosperous life to its people. In the first two decades of this century, we will concentrate our efforts on building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and further raise the people's living standard and quality. Following the requirements of a scientific outlook on development, we will put people first and take development as the primary task in running the country and government. We will promote coordinated development in urban and rural areas and among different regions, facilitate balanced economic and social development and harmonious development of man and nature, and coordinate domestic development and opening-up so as to achieve all-round, coordinated and sustainable development.

China sticks to a path of peaceful development. In essence, it means that China wants to capitalize on world peace to develop itself and better safeguard and promote world peace with its own growth. In China, we will mainly rely on our own strength to address the outstanding problems and achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. In the world arena, we will continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace and commit ourselves to world peace, common development and mutually beneficial cooperation. We will continue to expand our economic and technological cooperation with developing countries. And mutually beneficial cooperation on an equal footing will enable us to take advantage of each other's strength and will both promote continued development in China and bring opportunities to other developing countries. A stable, open and prosperous China will surely make still more contribution to world peace and development.

This year is of special significance in China-Bangladesh relations, as it marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past 30 years, both countries have followed the five principles of peaceful coexistence, respected each other and treated each other as equals. The bilateral relations between the two countries have been growing smoothly. The all-round and multi-faceted exchange and cooperation in the fields such as politics, economy, trade, culture, science and technology has yielded outstanding results. Both sides have also maintained sound coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs. The successful and frequent exchanges of high-level visits have laid a solid foundation for the development of friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries. The recent exchange of visits by both our Hon'ble Prime Ministers during the past months has further propelled the bilateral relations to new heights. China-Bangladesh relations have become a good example of peaceful coexistence between countries with different social systems and cultural backgrounds.

The economic and trade ties between China and Bangladesh is playing a more and more important role in the bilateral relations. The bilateral trade volume in 2004 amounted to 1.968 billion USD with an increase of 43.5% over the previous year. The Chinese Government will encourage more and more well-established state-owned as well as private enterprises to come to Bangladesh for investment and to carry out multi-formed cooperation with Bangladesh entrepreneurs to make our due contributions to the economic development of Bangladesh.

Looking forward to the future,we are filled with confidence. Further enhancement of the China-Bangladesh friendly and good-neighborly ties is our sincere wish and unswerving policy. Ancient Chinese philosopher, Confucius once said, "A person became firmly established at the age of thirty". We are convinced that, with the joint efforts of our two governments and two peoples, the firmly-established Sino-Bangladesh relations of Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation featuring long-term friendship, equality, and mutual benefit will shine out resplendent splendors and bear more fruits in the days to come.

May China-Bangladesh friendship continue from generation to generation!

May Bangladesh enjoy prosperity and its people well-being!

Chai Xi

Ambassador of the People's Republic of China

to the People's Republic of Bangladesh