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Ambassador Xiao Junzheng’s Remarks at the 2025 Chinese New Year Reception
2025-01-23 21:07

On January 22, the Chinese Embassy in Israel held the 2025 Chinese New Year Reception. Chinese Ambassador to Israel Xiao Junzheng attended the event and made remarks. The full text is as follows: 

Dear Israeli and Chinese friends,

Good evening!

On the occasion of the Chinese New Year, on behalf of all my colleagues at the Chinese Embassy in Israel, I would like to extend my best wishes to overseas Chinese in Israel and our Israeli friends.

The year of 2024 carried special significance for China and China-Israel relations.

Over the past year, we have overcome difficulties and made new achievements on the cause of the Communist Party of China (or the CPC) and the whole Chinese nation. We celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and have made solid advances in promoting Chinese modernization. More than 300 consequential reform measures in 60 aspects unveiled amid the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee sounded a clarion call for further deepening all-round reform. China’s economy has rebounded and is on an upward trajectory. Its GDP for the year passed the mark of 130 trillion yuan, while its total foreign trade value reached 6.2 trillion US dollars, both registering a 5-percent increase year on year. For the first time, China’s export volume grew to more than 25 trillion yuan. Solid progress has been made in high-quality development. We have fostered new quality productive forces in light of actual conditions. New business sectors, forms and models have kept emerging. For the first time, China has produced more than 10 million new energy vehicles in a year. Breakthroughs have been made in integrated circuit, artificial intelligence, quantum communications and many other fields.

Over the past year, China has injected more positive energy for upholding peace and stability in the world. New breakthroughs have been made in building a community with a shared future for humankind and promoting the historical trend of a shared future and global solidarity. Implementation of the three Global Initiatives has been expedited. Eighty-two countries have joined the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative, and 119 countries and international organizations have announced their support for the Global Security Initiative. Moreover, the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly passed the China-proposed resolution to establish the International Day for Dialogue among Civilizations. Deeper and more substantive advances have been made in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, with 155 countries joining the Belt and Road family. China is embracing the world in a more open attitude. The trendy topic “China Travel” went viral around the globe. 

Over the past year, China-Israel relations have grown steadily despite challenges. The leaders of the two countries have maintained close exchanges, reaching important consensus on the sound and stable development of the China-Israel innovative comprehensive partnership. Practical cooperation in various fields between the two countries have yielded fruitful outcomes, bringing benefits to the two peoples. Almost 20,000 Chinese workers have stayed in Israel during the conflict. China’s Hainan Airlines has kept its direct flights operational between China and Israel all along and is now planning to increase the flight frequency. The Haifa New Port, the Tel Aviv Red Line light rail and other infrastructure built and operated by Chinese companies have been functioning well. All these have made contributions to the social and economic development in Israel. Innovation cooperation has become a highlight and a propeller of the bilateral relations, with the China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park and the China-Israel Innovation Hub in Shanghai progressing smoothly. Chinese electric cars are immensely popular in Israel, accounting for almost 70 percent of the local market. With China downgrading its travel advisory for Israel, bilateral exchanges and cooperation have been gradually recovered in various fields. Chinese companies, Chinese students, Chinese journalists and Chinese communities in Israel work hard at their posts, carry forward friendship, keep their motherland in the heart, oppose “Taiwan independence” and promote reunification. They have contributed to better China-Israel relations. 

Dear friends,

My fellow Chinese,

As the final year for the 14th Five-Year Plan, the year 2025 is also when we need to get prepared for the next Five-Year Plan. We will promote Chinese modernization through high-quality development and pursue global common development through high-level opening-up. By doing so, we will make greater contribution to the cause of peace and progress.

The year 2025 also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Amid the Second World War, the Chinese people and the Jewish people supported each other when combating Fascism. Chinese cities including Shanghai, Harbin and Tianjin accommodated a great number of Jewish refugees. Instead of any trace of anti-semitism in China, one can only find the history of Chinese people extending helping hands to their Jewish friends who were in tough situations. China and Israel need to jointly safeguard the outcomes of the anti-Fascist victory, uphold international equity and justice, stay vigilant against and firmly oppose any glorification of the Nazis and Fascism.

The Chinese side welcomes the agreement on ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. We hope the agreement will be effectively implemented, Israeli hostages will return to their homes safely, and peace and stability will come back in the region at an early date.

Dear friends,

My fellow Chinese,

In two days’ time, China and Israel will celebrate the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations. Almost two months into my arrival in Israel, I have met with many Israeli friends from different sectors and talked with friends from the Chinese companies and Chinese communities in Israel. From these interactions, I could feel the great potential, robust resilience and promising future of China-Israel relations.

In the new year, the Chinese Embassy would like to work with all Israeli friends for a better future of the bilateral relations. The Embassy will continue taking “diplomacy for the people” as the guiding principle and provide more convenient services of higher quality for Chinese institutions and overseas Chinese in Israel. We hope you will continue supporting our work and play your part in promoting China-Israel friendship.

To conclude, let’s wish our great countries peace and prosperity!

Wish China-Israel relations eternity and greater improvement!

Wish you and your families a happy new year and all the best!

Thank you!

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