Oct. 1 marks the 55th anniversary of the founding of the

Oct. 1 marks the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On this auspicious occasion, on behalf of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Indonesia, and in my own name, I wish to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who have long cared cared about and supported China's development, and who have committed themselves to the friendship and cooperation between China and Indonesia.

Since having adopted the policy of reform and opening up 25 years ago, China has made remarkable achievements in its economic and social development.

China's gross domestic product (GDP) has grown at an average annual rate of 9.4 percent; its social productivity and comprehensive national strength have kept rising and people's living standards have been continuously improving.

In 2003, China's GDP exceeded US$1.4 trillion, with per capita GDP having passed the important benchmark of $1,000. At present, China's economy maintains the momentum with sound development, with its GDP jumping by 9.7 percent, and foreign trade 38 percent in the first half of this year. Our hard work has proved that China, in the process of its reform and opening up, has embarked on a road of peaceful development.

The Chinese Government has set the objectives of development in the first two decades of this century, namely, to build a moderately well-off society and strive to quadruple the GDP of 2000 to $4 trillion, with a per capita GDP of $3,000 in 2020.

Under the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important Thoughts of Three Representatives (i.e. Chinese Communist Party represents the requirements of the development trend of China 's advanced productive forces, represents the orientation of China's advanced culture and represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people), the Chinese people, never wavering in carrying out the policies of reform and opening up, are striving to reach this goal. They adhere to the principle of focusing on the economic construction, and seek to implement a development mode with people's interest as the priority and an all-around, coordinated and sustainable development as its aim.

The Chinese Government is steadfast in safeguarding China's sovereignty, national security and territorial integrity. "Peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" is China's basic policy on the Taiwan question. Ready to make the utmost efforts with maximum sincerity, the Chinese Government is working hard to achieve a peaceful reunification to the motherland. At the same time, it is firm in opposing any attempts to create "Taiwan independence", "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan".

The Chinese Government and people are convinced that people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, linked by common ancestral and cultural heritage, are as close to each other as flesh and blood, and the lofty cause of the national reunification is bound to become reality.

China unswervingly pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, adheres to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and increases friendly exchanges and cooperation with other countries.

China advocates democracy in international relations and diversity in development models, and encourages the progress of economic globalization in a direction that benefits the common prosperity of all nations. China upholds a new concept of security based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation and opposes hegemonism, power politics and terrorism in all its manifestations. China will continue to work for a new international political and economic order that is fair and equitable.

China and Indonesia are committed to establishing and developing all-round, long-term and stable cooperative relations of good-neighborliness and mutual trust. In 2003, the relationship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Indonesia continued to advance with good momentum.

The two countries conducted fruitful cooperation and exchanges in the political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, educational, military and security fields, and maintained good coordination and collaboration in international and regional affairs.

Leaders of the two countries kept regular contacts. In October 2003, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao participated in the ASEAN plus China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (10+3) Summit in Bali and held bilateral talks with Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

During the recent Asian Cooperation Dialogue Foreign Ministers' Meeting and ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held bilateral talks with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda.

The two countries also have made impressive headway in trade and economic cooperation. Bilateral trade volume between the two countries in 2003 reached $10.2 billion, a record increase of 28.9 percent over 2002. From January to July 2004, the bilateral trade volume has amounted to $7.29 billion, up 36.1 percent over the same period the previous year.

Furthermore, the economic departments of our two countries have targeted the bilateral trade volume in 2005 at $15 billion. I am confident that with concerted efforts from both sides, China-Indonesia cooperation in economic and trade fields will continue to make great progress.

As the biggest developing country in both Asia and the world, China is striving to achieve its own development. China cannot develop without Asia, and Asia's rejuvenation also needs China. Only when China becomes developed and stronger can China make greater contributions to the world, and Asia in particular.

Holding high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, China will stick to the road of peaceful development, and together with all other Asian countries write a new chapter of Asian rejuvenation. A stable, developed and prosperous China is bound to promote peace in Asia as well as the world, and provide more opportunities for the development of Asia and the world.