Just in 10 days' time, we are about to see the arrival of the most important Chinese traditional festival, the Spring Festival. Tonight, it with great pleasure that my wife and I, together with our consulate colleagues join our friends from Southern California to celebrate the upcoming 2020 Chinese lunar new year, the Year of the Rat. At a time when we bid farewell to the past year and ring in the new one, I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, warm festive greetings and best wishes to all our friends, including Chinese community members, students and Chinese company staff.

2019 is an extraordinary year for Chinese people. We held a grand celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, presenting its 70 years of glorious journey, great achievements and valuable experiences, demonstrating the spirit of solidarity, self confidence and hard working of the Chinese people and their strong patriotic sentiments.

We successfully convened the fourth plenary session of the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, which for the first time identified the overall objectives of upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing the modernization of China's system and capacity for governance, thus providing a more solid institutional guarantee for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

In the past year, under the strong leadership of CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jingping at its core, the Chinese people stayed united and worked hard in overcoming difficulties, coping with various internal and external risks and challenges. By making unswerving efforts to implement the concept of new development, and to deepen the reform and expand opening-up, we have achieved new progress in economic, political cultural, social and ecological fields. China's economy has maintained a steady growth. GDP of last year is expected to edge close to 100 trillion RMB yuan with the per capita figure reaching the level of 10,000 USD, which indicates that Chinese economy has got up to other new level. It is of great significance for realizing the goal of finishing building a moderately prosperous society.

In the past year, China's diplomacy braved the storm and forged ahead. We remained firm in upholding the national interests of sovereignty, security and development rights, safeguarding the dignity of the country, nation and people. We made great efforts to maintain world peace, promote common development, advance the Belt & Road international cooperation. We played an active role in advocating multilateralism and democratization of international relations, promoting a new model of international relations and building of community of shared future of mankind. China has become a major force for international peace, stability and global development.

Last year has seen a most complex situation in China – US relations. What China-US relations have gone through over the last year proves that, trade war does not help to resolve our trade differences; to decouple our two countries or to push for "new cold war" is unpopular and goes against the tide of history; bullying and any attempts to undermine the core interests of China are certain to meet with the resolute opposition of the Chinese people. Differences between our two countries have to be worked out through dialogues based on equal-footing and mutual respect. I am pleased to see that this morning the two sides signed the Phase 1 Economic and Trade Agreement. It marks an important step toward the right direction of solving our trade disputes to de-escalate trade tensions. This is good for China, good for the US and good for the whole world. The signing of the agreement will help to stabilize market expectations and is of great importance for stabilizing China-US relations.

Over the past year, despite the tension in the bilateral relationship, China-US sub-national exchanges have maintained a good momentum of development within our consular district.   Events like California-China Business Forum, China cultural and tourism week, Chinese-American Film and TV Festival, Happy Spring Festival and Beautiful China cultural programs and many others have attracted strong interests from all sectors in the consular district. Many people in various circles of our consular district, with fond feelings and great expectations to China-US relations, have devoted themselves to promoting understanding and friendship between our two countries and two peoples. It fully demonstrates that China-US friendship is built on a profound and broad popular basis. We have every reason to believe that no matter what challenges bilateral relations may come across, so long as we have the support of out two peoples, China-U.S. relationship will have a bright future.

In the past year, out of profound sentiments for their home country and aspirations for better China-US relations, the Chinese community in our consular district held a series of spontaneous events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations and the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland. The Chinese community has also given support to  the "One China"principle and "one country, two systems" , actively engaged in promoting Chinese culture and sub-national exchanges and cooperation. They are the important driving force for developing sub-national relations between China and our consular district. I wish to take this opportunity to pay tribute and express profound thanks to them.

The year 2020 marks an important milestone in the journey of achieving great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We will eradicate absolute poverty, complete the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and realize our first Centennial Goal.

We will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, uphold world peace and promote common development. China's development is unstoppable. The pace of China's reform and opening-up will not stagnate and China will open its door wider. China's development will bring more opportunities for the rest of the world.

We will continue to promote a China-U.S. relationship based on coordination, cooperation and stability, and strive to put the China-U.S. relationship back on the track of sound development so as to achieve a relationship that features non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

We will uphold the principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems". No matter what has happened in Taiwan island, the basic fact that there is one China and Taiwan is a part of China will remain unchanged. The position of the Chinese government to uphold the One China principle, oppose Taiwan independence or two Chinas, one China one Taiwan will remain unchanged. The general consensus of the international community on upholding the One China principle will remain unchanged. The Chinese government will firmly safeguard the nation's sovereignty, unity and dignity as well as to oppose any separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence".

In the coming new year, the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles will further strengthen its connections with all sectors of the consular district, further promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and provide better consular services. We look forward to working with our friends of all walks of life to promote further development of the China-U.S. relations as well as China-U.S. sub-national exchanges and cooperation.

New year symbolizes a new beginning and embodies the new hopes and aspirations of people toward a better life. It is our sincere wish that our great motherland will enjoy greater prosperity and people greater happiness with new achievements made in the new year. We sincerely hope that China-US relations will be back to right track of stable and sound development at an early date. We sincerely hope that peace and harmony will return to Hong Kong society and it will enjoy long term prosperity and stability. We wish our friends good fortune, good health, and great happiness in the New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year. Good luck in the Year of the Rat.