Your Excellency,Mr. President Gjorge Ivanov,

Your Excellency,Mr. President of the Assembly Trajko Veljanoski,

Distinguished guests, dear Chinese fellow citizens,

Good evening. First of all, I would like to welcome all of you for accepting the invitation and presenting yourselves on the reception of the 66th Anniversary of the foundation of People`s Republic of China. Especially, I would like to express my gratitude towards the presence of the president of Macedonia, H.E. Gjorge Ivanov, and President of the Assembly, H.E. Trajko Veljanoski. As the head of state and first citizen of the Republic of Macedonia, your personal attentions and supports play doubtlessly the key role to the smooth development of the bilateral relation between China and Macedonia.

In the past year, new progress has been made in exchanges and cooperation between China and Macedonia in various fields like politics, economy, culture, etc., especially the bilateral economy and trade has achieved encouraging results. According to the statistics of the first seven month in this year, the bilateral trade increased by 10.9%, among which the export from Macedonia to China increased more than 250%. The two high way projects contracted by Sinohydro are comprehensively implemented. At the beginning of July, the first High-speed EMU-train manufactured by Chinese Company CRRC for Macedonia was completed and rolled off the production line. Successively, all 6 units of passenger trains will be transported and handed over to Macedonia. Also, new cooperation projects for infrastructure construction, interconnection are under negotiation between both sides.

During the development of the friendly relations with Macedonia, China always adhere to the Five Principles, namely mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other's internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence. The Chinese side paid close attention to the political crisis occurred in Macedonia since the beginning of this year and noticed that preliminary compromise has been reached between main political parties of Macedonia, in order to solve this crisis. We have faith in the capability and wisdom of the Macedonian people for coping with complicated situation and sincerely hope the domestic situation of Macedonia would be eased and stabilized.

Ladies and gentlemen, hereby I would like to take this opportunity to briefly introduce the current economic development of China.

In the context of the slowdown of global economic growth, the economy of China increased by 7% in the first half of the year, which is among the highest of the world's major economies and contributed about 30% to global growth. Although this growth rate is lower previous years, but it is not at all easy. Because we are talking about a US$ 10 trillion economy, for which 7% growth actually generates more increase in volume than the double-digit growth in the past.

Over the last several months, we have seen a slip or fluctuation in certain economic factors, but the policies and measures adopted by the Chinese government in advance have taken into effect gradually. The services sector already accounts for half of China's GDP, and consumption contributes 60% to growth. Growth in high-tech industries is notably higher than the entire industrial sector. Consumer demands for information, cultural, health and tourism products are booming. Energy conservation, environmental protection and the green economy are thriving. New economic growth areas are rapidly taking shape. Thus, optimistically, the performance of the Chinese economy trend is stable and moving in a positive direction. There are more opportunities than challenges.

Ladies and Gentlemen, in March this year, the Chinese government enacted <Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road> which is a guiding document for building the "Belt and Road". We highly appreciate that Macedonia, as one country along the "Belt and Road", positively joining the CEEC cooperation mechanism and supporting the construction of the "China-Europe Land-Sea Express Route".

Based on the trend of the deepening development of globalization, the Chinese side would like to further enlarge the reform and opening to build a community of common interests and development which is mutual beneficial and comprehensive along with all countries in the world including Macedonia.

In the end, I would like to propose a toast for the 66th anniversary of the foundation of People`s Republic of China, for the prosperity of the People`s Republic of China and the Republic of Macedonia, for the friendship of people between both countries, for the health of President Ivanov, President Veljanoski and all the distinguished guests.

Thanks for your attension.