Fangfeiyuan, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, 7 December 2010

Your Excellency State Councilor Dai Bingguo,
Your Excellencies Diplomatic Envoys,
Representatives of International Organizations and Your Spouses,
Dear Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

We are once again gathered here on this joyful occasion to celebrate the New Year. And we are especially pleased to have with us today State Councilor Dai Bingguo and officials of relevant government agencies to renew friendship with Your Excellencies and other friends, old and new. Over the past year, Your Excellencies Ambassadors and your spouses and other diplomats have worked tirelessly to enhance our mutual understanding and promote friendship and cooperation and made invaluable contributions. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in my own name, I wish to extend festive greetings to you and express heartfelt thanks to all the friends who have shown care and support for China's diplomacy.

The year 2010 has been an important year for the overall world economy to emerge from the shadow of the financial crisis and embark on the track of recovery. Reform of the international economic system has gathered momentum, while multilateralism and win-win cooperation have won greater popular support. On the other hand, the world economic recovery remains fragile and uneven. Global challenges such as climate change, energy security, food security and disaster prevention and reduction have become more pronounced. Hotspot issues have heated up from time to time, and factors bearing on peace and development have got more complex and diverse. In the face of complex and profound changes on the world scene, all countries have worked hard to pursue peace through cooperation and promote development through enhanced stability, displaying a strong resolve to meet challenges with concerted efforts. During this process, the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and other countries has further deepened, our exchanges in the political, economic, cultural and other fields expanded, and our coordination and cooperation in the reform of the international system and multilateral affairs strengthened. This has been a year marked by closer links, greater interactions and stronger cooperation between China and the world, and by China's new contributions to world peace, stability and development.

The year 2010 has also been an eventful year in the course of China's peaceful development. We have overcome such natural disasters as the Yushu earthquake and the massive Zhouqu mudslide. We have ensured the steady and relatively fast economic development, successfully hosted the Shanghai World Expo and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, and accomplished the Chang'e-2 lunar probe mission. In all these efforts, we have received broad understanding and sincere help from other countries. I wish to take this opportunity to express heartfelt thanks to all the governments and to you, diplomatic envoys in China, for the valuable support.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The year 2011 marks the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century. The world will continue to move towards multi-polarity, while the process of global economic recovery and reform will further evolve. Countries will engage in deeper cooperation and interactions as they endeavor to transform their economic development patterns and enhance overall national strength in the post-crisis era. Next year marks the start of the implementation of China's 12th five-year plan. We will enter a crucial period in our effort to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepen reform and opening-up and accelerate the transformation of the economic development pattern. With the same development goals, China and the rest of the world will enjoy a wider arc of cooperation and face new historic opportunities. We will proactively adapt ourselves to the new developments and needs of the domestic and international situation, stay committed to the path of peaceful development, unswervingly follow the win-win strategy of opening-up, pursue peaceful, scientific, cooperative and win-win development, and work with other countries to make greater contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity.

With the beginning of the new year, everything takes on a new look. We look forward to continuing our good cooperation in the coming year for the sustained growth of our relations.

I now propose a toast,
to our common cause of world peace and development,
to greater friendship and cooperation between China and other countries, and
to the health and happiness of you all.

Cheers!