Your Excellency Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Finance and National Development,

Your Excellencies Members of Parliament Mr Liang Eng Hwa, Ms Cassandra Lee,

Members of the Diplomatic Corps,

Distinguished Guests,

My Fellow Compatriots,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

As China’s National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival approach, we are gathered here tonight to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, I would like to take this opportunity to convey our heartfelt gratitude to Minister Indranee Rajah and all our guests for attending our reception today, and to all our friends who have for a long term cared for and supported the development of China and China-Singapore relations.

The wheels of history roll on, and the tides of the times surge ahead. In 2026, China and Singapore have achieved steady progress and many new highlights in our respective national development. China-Singapore relations have continued to evolve and taken a fresher look. In the face of a changing and volatile international landscape and a severe and complicated external environment, our two countries remain committed to the common values of humanity and pursuit of a better future.

In 2026, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Chinese modernization has made new achievements. China’s 15th Five-Year Plan got off to a steady start, and the Chinese economy has shown an overall stable momentum of development with newer growth drivers and a better structure. In the first half of this year, China’s GDP grew by 4.7 percent year on year. In August, the value added of industrial enterprises above designated size increased by 5.2 percent year on year, among which the equipment manufacturing sector and high-tech manufacturing sector grew by 12.1 percent and 16.7 percent respectively. From January to August, the total value of goods imported and exported grew by 17.6 percent year on year.

China has made new breakthroughs in scientific and technological innovation. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference was successfully held. Artificial intelligence, robots and innovative drugs, also known as the "new new three", amazed the world. The Tao Scaling Law was unveiled, breakthroughs were made in the research and development of integrated circuits, and the successful recovery of sea and land launched rockets attracted worldwide attention. China's high-value invention patents have reached 2.36 million.

China has set new records in green transition. China’s installed photovoltaic power capacity reached 1.286 billion kilowatts, surpassing coal-fired power for the first time to become the largest installed power source and ranking first in the world. Products such as wind turbines, photovoltaic modules and electric vehicles have been exported to more than 200 countries and regions around the world. China supplies 70 percent of the world’s wind power equipment and 80 percent of the world’s photovoltaic modules, helping to reduce the global cost of wind and photovoltaic power generation by more than 60 percent and 80 percent respectively.

China has made new progress in advancing democracy and the rule of law and improving people’s well-being. The Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress has taken effect, further forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation. Per capita disposable income, government subsidies for basic medical insurance and the minimum pension standard have continued to rise, giving the people a greater sense of fulfillment. “China Travel” has become the vogue of the day. We welcome more people to visit China more to have a better understanding of a true China from all dimensions.

In 2026, under the strategic guidance of Chinese and Singaporean leaders, the China-Singapore all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership has made new progress. High-level exchanges between the two countries have remained close. Last October, Premier Li Qiang paid an official visit to Singapore. In March this year, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong traveled to China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026. In May, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan visited China in succession, followed by a visit by Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng in June. More recently, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region Sam Hou Fai visited Singapore. The 22nd meeting of the China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation is scheduled to take place next month. These interactions are strong testaments to the high level of our bilateral relations.

Exchanges between our two countries in other fields have likewise been vibrant and fruitful. The film Dear You has been a hit in Singapore, and its core message “one should be caring and loyal” has resonated well with both Chinese and Singapore audience. China’s August 1st Aerobatic Team returned to Singapore to participate in the Singapore Airshow in six years’ time, delighting local audiences with spectacular aerial performances. Since the mutual visa exemption agreement between our two countries took effect, two-way people-to-people exchanges have continued to grow, and China is now the top overseas travel destination for Singaporeans.

Though China and Singapore are blessed with robust and thriving bilateral cooperation, we are also soberly aware that the world today is far from idyllic. Changes unseen in a century are accelerating, all kinds of risks and challenges and governance deficit are emerging, basic rules governing international relations have been sabotaged, and the law of the jungle has made a return. Amid all these developments, stability and certainty have become scarce commodities in today’s world, and security and resilience have emerged as growing priorities for all. We human beings are like passengers aboard a ship sailing through treacherous seas, facing a critical choice as to which course to take and where to go.

Dear Friends,

History has proven time and again that only solidarity and cooperation, not division and confrontation, are the right choice. There are already far too many problems to solve, challenges to address and differences to bridge in the world. Our fragile planet cannot afford any further turmoil. In the face of the task posed by history and the times that bears on humanity’s future and destiny, we must join hands and confront difficulties head-on in order to create a better future for human civilization. The more turbulent the world becomes, the more firmly we must uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law. We must champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, so as to steer human progress in the right direction.

I know that our friends in Singapore have closely followed China and I was often asked with these questions: How does China position itself in a turbulent world? What are China’s development goals? Where will China’s diplomacy head? As a matter of fact, answers to these questions can be found in China’s Constitution, in CPC’s Constitution, in President Xi Jinping’s important remarks on state governance, and in China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. China conducts itself openly and aboveboard. We have nothing to hide and never conceal or sugarcoat anything.

Since the People’s Republic of China was founded 77 years ago and the CPC was founded 105 years ago, China has never for a moment wavered in its commitment to pursue happiness for its people, rejuvenation for the nation, progress for humanity and greater good for the world. China is now striving to build a strong nation and advance national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. China’s goal will always be anchored in enabling its people to lead a happy and fulfilling life. No matter how the international landscape may change, China’s commitment to upholding international fairness and justice will remain steadfast. The Belt and Road Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping have offered a feasible pathway to and strategic guidance for building a community with a shared future for humanity. Our launch of the World Artificial Intelligence Organization Cooperation and International Alliance Against Telecom and Online Fraud testify to our dedication to ensuring technology remains a force for good and upholding global public security. China will never follow the old path of seeking hegemony as it grows stronger, nor does it subscribe to the logic of “great-power co-governance”. Our strategic intention is to work together with the rest of the world to achieve win-win outcomes. Our solemn commitment is clear and unequivocal, and our image as a responsible major country will stand the test of practice, the people and history.

As a Chinese saying goes, “When we share a common vision, no distance can keep us apart.” China’s confidence in the steady and sound development of China-Singapore relations remains unwavering. For our two countries have stood side by side through important stages of our respective national development and worked hand in hand to address major challenges including the Asian financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. China appreciates Singapore government’s stance on the one-China principle and unequivocal opposition to “Taiwan independence”. Going forward, China looks forward to working with Singapore to continue to deepen political mutual trust, and expand practical cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, artificial intelligence, digital economy, clean energy, education, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges, so as to create new cooperation highlights. In November this year, China will host in Shenzhen the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Next year, Singapore will take over ASEAN chairmanship. As two constructive and certain forces for peace and stability in the region, China and Singapore will surely support and closely coordinate with each other in pursuing our respective major diplomatic agendas at home, and inject impetus into lasting peace and shared prosperity in the region and beyond through concrete actions.

China remains committed to building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. China firmly supports ASEAN centrality in the regional architecture, and is ready to work with ASEAN countries to take on our due responsibility to build a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, and to ensure China-ASEAN cooperation remains an engine for Asia’s development and rejuvenation, a shining example of Asia-Pacific cooperation and a yardstick of the Global South seeking strength through unity. Our two sides will pursue even closer cooperation to benefit people in the region and firmer solidarity to tackle challenges and uncertainties lying ahead of us.

Dear Guests,

Friends,

Only by riding the tide of history and following the right path can we move onwards and upwards. Let us uphold the common values of humanity featuring peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, and join hands to create a better future for all.

To conclude, may China and Singapore enjoy prosperity. May our people enjoy happiness and good health. And a very happy Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day to our Chinese compatriots.

Thank you all.