Lunar New Year Message from H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

Your Excellencies Ambassadors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of International Organizations, Friends,

Greetings to you all.?On behalf of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, I would like to convey to you, your families and your colleagues?our sincere regards and best wishes as?we ring in the Lunar New Year.

For the world, 2021 was full of turbulence and challenges. At the same time, it also gave good grounds for peace and hope.

COVID-19 continued to rage across the globe throughout the year. New variants?such as Delta?and Omicron emerged one after another, putting life and health around the world?in peril. Meanwhile, the international community, through joint efforts, expanded vaccine distribution and accelerated pharmaceutical research and development, showing us the light at the end of the tunnel?to defeat the pandemic.

Throughout the year, the world economy continued to struggle against the shock wave of the pandemic, which caused?problems for many countries in people's livelihood, employment and even political stability. Meanwhile, countries showed a stronger faith in enhancing cooperation and getting over the difficult time together.?International trade made a robust rebound, and technological innovation advanced at a faster pace, bringing economies across the world onto the path of recovery.

Throughout the year, the international situation continued to stagger, evolve, and transform. A certain?country attempted to draw lines based on values and ideologies, and stoke division and confrontation in the name of democracy and human rights, casting clouds of a new Cold War over the whole world. Meanwhile, peace and development remained?the theme of the times. Solidarity over division and cooperation over confrontation became the shared aspiration and choice of the majority of countries.

Faced with the complex international situation?in 2021, China continued to bear in mind the interest of the world, shouldered its responsibilities,?and made important contributions to the world.

We joined wholeheartedly in global cooperation against COVID-19.?By the end of 2021, China provided more than two?billion doses of vaccines to over 120 countries and international organizations, the largest amount of outbound vaccines given by a single country.?That means one out of two vaccines administered around the world was made in China. We gave priority to cooperation with the developing world. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping announced that China would provide, on top of what it already did, one billion doses of vaccines to Africa?and 150 million doses to ASEAN countries.

We vigorously promoted world economic development. The steady growth of China's economy injected strong impetus into world economic recovery. A?number of international organizations?estimated that?in 2021 China remained the largest contributor to global economic growth with a solid share of more than 25 percent. President Xi Jinping solemnly presented the Global Development Initiative, providing a new public good for effectively tackling post-COVID challenges and realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Initiative has been well received and supported?by international organizations such as UN agencies and nearly 100 countries.

We firmly defended international fairness and justice. We, together with the majority of countries in the world, took the right side of history. We jointly opposed unilateralism, power politics and bullying. We vigorously advocated true multilateralism and the common values of humanity. We actively mediated for peaceful settlement of regional hotspot issues. And we firmly upheld the UN-centered international system and the international order underpinned by international law.

Friends,

Last year marked the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). You?all?witnessed this great, historic moment together with the 1.4 billion Chinese people. Many of you even made important visits to "red historic sites" across China, gaining a more truthful and comprehensive understanding of China and the CPC. This year, the CPC will hold its?20th National Congress, and the Chinese people will embark on a new journey of development?under the CPC's leadership.

As President Xi Jinping pointed out, the CPC is a party that strives for the wellbeing of the Chinese people, and it is also a party that endeavors for progress?of humanity. In the new year, China will continue to hold high the banner of a community with a shared future for mankind, and work hand in hand with all countries that love peace and uphold justice to make new and greater contribution to safeguarding world peace and prosperity.

We will celebrate the Winter Olympics with all countries in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation.?In?a few days, the?Olympics will enter?"Beijing Time". We have the confidence and capability to overcome distractions and make the Winter Games a grand global event that enhances mutual understanding and friendship and brings the whole world "together for a shared future", so as to?give all nations greater confidence and strength in battling?the pandemic.

We will build a line of defense against COVID-19 with all countries in the spirit of mutual assistance.?We will continue to make good use of vaccines, the most effective weapon against the virus, support other developing countries in closing the immunization gap, strive to build a global community of health for all, and foster greater synergy for the world to defeat the virus at an early date.

We will strengthen friendship and cooperation with all countries in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual trust.?We will actively promote coordination, cooperation and amity among major countries, deepen convergence of interests in all areas and people-to-people connectivity with neighboring countries, and strengthen solidarity and friendship with fellow developing countries. We will encourage all countries to strive for greater cooperation and mutual trust?and less friction and division, and?to?deliver more benefits to all peoples.

We will promote development and prosperity with all countries in the spirit of mutual benefit?and win-win.?We will work closely with UN agencies and all countries to synergize our efforts for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and advance the implementation of the Global Development Initiative. We will actively safeguard the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, pursue deeper and more substantive progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and contribute more energy to world economic recovery.

Thank you!