National Day message by H.E. Ambassador Zhou Gang

Today 48 years ago, a brand new leaf was turned over in Chinese history. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the Chinese people have scored brilliant achievements in the cause of socialist construction through self- reliance and hard struggle. China's overall national strength has been enhanced remarkably, while the living standard of its people has improved rapidly and its economic achievements attracted worldwide attention.

As a result, the international prestige of China has risen unprecedentedly. Looking back at the achievements we have scored since the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially since the past 18 years of reform and opening-up, we feel very proud.

The year 1997 is of special significance in Chinese history. On July 1 of this year, the Chinese government resumed the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong. The return of Hong Kong to China is a major event, not only in the history of the Chinese nation, but also in the world history of the 20th century.

For China, it means the end of a history of humiliation over the past 100 years and more and the beginning of a new epoch. Since its return to China, Hong Kong has enjoyed social stability and economic development, thus fully demonstrating the correctness of the principles and policies laid down by Deng Xiaoping.

To continue the enforcement of the Basic Law and maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong through unswervingly carrying out the policies of "one country, two systems", "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and "a high degree of autonomy" are not only in the interests of the entire Chinese people, including Hong Kong compatriots, but also conducive to the long-term stability, economic prosperity and development of the Asia Pacific region.

As Hong Kong has now returned to China, and Macao is going to return to its motherland, the Chinese people are determined and confident to solve the Taiwan Question in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems", so as to realize the complete reunification of China in the end.

Another major event of great significance in China's political life this year is the convening of the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in September. The Congress, held at a crucial moment of China's reform and opening-up and its socialist modernization drive, is a convention linking the present with the past and looking ahead into the future.

It has mobilized Chinese people of all nationalities to unite as one and fight for an all-round advancement of the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century. On the basis of summarizing the achievements China has scored in its modernization drive, especially since it carried out reform and opening-up, the Congress drew up a strategic blueprint for the cross-century development of our modernization drive.

The most important contribution this congress has made is that it has established the Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guiding ideology of the Communist Party of China. This theory will exert great and far-reaching influence on the successful realization of the strategic objectives by the end of this century, so as to open up more glorious and brilliant prospects in the next century.

China has witnessed tremendous achievements in its economic construction since it carried out reform and opening-up. As the national economy saw moderately rapid growth during the first half of the year, making progress through steady development became the keynote for economic development.

The Gross Domestic Product for the first six months totaled US$399.5 billion, a 9.5 percent increase over the same period last year calculated in comparable prices. Summer grains once again witnessed a bumper harvest, while industry production grew steadily.

Foreign investment actually in use continued to grow. The total volume of imports and exports for the first half of the year hit $143.87 billion, up 13.1 percent over the same period of last year, with the trade surplus reaching $17.77 billion.

Up to the end of June, foreign exchange reserves of the country totaled $120.9 billion. The national economy has been doing well in general, but there are still outstanding structural contradictions. The reform of state-owned enterprises, maintenance of long-term and stable growth of agricultural production and thorough elimination of poverty are the major problems at present needing urgent solution in China.

It is a crucial period to realize the third step of the strategic objectives of our economic construction from now on to the first 10 years of the next century. The world today is characterized by the coexistence of opportunities and challenges. We must seize rare opportunities for development and brave challenges so as to raise the social productive forces, overall national strength and the people's living standard of our country to a new height.

The development of China needs not only the long-term and concerted efforts of the entire Chinese people, but also the stable neighboring environment and world prosperity and stability. The Chinese people love peace and are fully aware of what it means.

China always unswervingly pursues the independent foreign policy of peace, opposes hegemony and power politics, supports the cause of international justice and is ready to maintain and develop friendly relations and cooperation with all the countries in the world. China will never seek hegemony, will always devote itself to the regional and world peace and will always be a trusted friend to the people of the world.

All ASEAN member countries are friendly neighbors of China. The friendly relations and cooperation between China and ASEAN is developing rapidly in depth and width. Premier Li Peng put forward a five-point proposal on developing relations between China and ASEAN while visiting Malaysia in August this year: respecting each other and treating each other as equals; strengthening dialog and intensifying consultation; seeking common development based on mutual benefit; supporting each other and expanding cooperation; bearing in mind the general situation, seeking common ground while putting aside difference. Abiding by these principles, China would like to build together with ASEAN a regional environment of lasting prosperity, peace and stability.

Both being big countries in Asia, and friendly neighbors, China and Indonesia share many similar or identical views on international and regional issues, and are confronted with the important task of maintaining and promoting the sustained and stable development of their respective economies.

Further enhancing mutual understanding, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and establishing long-term, sound and stable relations between China and Indonesia will exert important influence on the peace and stability in Asia and in the world. I believe that with the united efforts from our two sides, the friendly relations and cooperation between China and Indonesia will continue to strengthen and develop.