TEHRAN- The Chinese Embassy in Iran celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at the place of Parsian Azadi Hotel in Tehran in the evening of Saturday (September 28).

The event was attended by a number of high-ranking officials and diplomats from different countries.

Addressing the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Cong Peiwu delivered a speech, the text of which comes as follows.

Splendid Achievements of China’ s 75 years journey

A New Chapter of China-Iran Cooperation

Iranian poet Bahram once wrote, "Poetic time comes with autumn." As the warm autumn breeze blows across the land of China and as abundant fruits decorate the Iranian plateau, We are delighted to usher in the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Iran and the Chinese Consulate-General in Bandar Abbas, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all the guests. Consul General Xu Wei and I would like to extend our sincere greetings to the Chinese community in Iran and express our heartfelt thanks to all friends from all walks of life who care about and support the development of China-Iran relations.

75 years ago, the People's Republic of China was founded. Since then, the Chinese nation with a civilization of more than 5,000 years has entered a new historical era of development and progress.

Over the past 75 years, China's economic aggregate has continued to expand. In 1952, China's GDP was only 67.9 billion yuan. Since the reform and opening up, China's economy has developed rapidly. In 2023, China’s GDP exceeded 126 trillion yuan, which is 223 times higher than that in 1952 at constant prices. China's per capita disposable income reached 39,200 yuan in 2023, which is 76 times higher than that in 1949 after deducting price factors.

Over the past 75 years, China has made great progress and continuously improved its comprehensive strength. New China has developed into the world's second largest economy and the largest industrial country from a weak industrial foundation. China has made significant achievements in many fields such as manned space flight, lunar exploration, deep-sea exploration, and quantum science, and the effectiveness of the innovation-driven development strategy has continued to emerge.

Over the past 75 years, China has continued to write green miracles. We highly appreciate Iranian government’s strong support for the development of the green economy. China adheres to the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and stays firmly committed to Green Development. China's installed solar and wind power capacity has ranked first in the world for many years.

The secret of China's success lies in the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC has led China to create one great miracle after another in the history of human development. Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered new era. President Xi Jinping has led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to stay confident and build strength, uphold fundamental principles and break new ground. Our Party has rallied the people and led them in solving a great number of problems that had long gone unsolved, in accomplishing many major things that that had long gone unaccomplished. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process.

After 75 years of arduous efforts, China and Chinese people's lives have undergone tremendous changes, but one thing has never changed, that is, China has always been committed to promoting world peace and development.

Over the past 75 years, China always upholds international fairness and justice. With the support and facilitation of China, Iran and Saudi Arabia reached a historic reconciliation in Beijing, 14 Palestinian factions gathered in Beijing for the first time to hold a reconciliation dialogue, bringing hope to the suffering Palestinian people. China always upholds fairness and justice to promote a ceasefire in Gaza. China has been continuing to promote peace talks and contributing China's wisdom and solutions to the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis. China had dispatched the largest number of peacekeepers among the permanent members of the Security Council, having sent over 50,000 peacekeepers participating in UNPKOs over the past 30 years.

For three quarters of a century, China has been making contribution to global development. From 2013 to 2023, China's economy contributed more than 30% to the world's economic growth on average, becoming an important engine for world economic growth. China has become the major trading partner of more than 140 countries and regions. More than 180 countries and international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents with China, with related cooperation projects creating 420,000 jobs for countries along the Belt and Road, lifting nearly 40 million people out of poverty.

From the mid-20th century to the present, China has continuously promoted exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations. China is making every effort to build a platform for equal dialogue among different civilizations. The Silk Road International Theaters, museums, art Festivals, libraries, Alliance of art Galleries, etc. have been established one after another, playing the symphony of "soft connection" and "heart connection", and inspiring the joint force to enhance the people-to-people bond.

The just-concluded Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee demonstrated China's strong determination to open up broad prospects for Chinese modernization by further deepening reform comprehensively. It will surely create more new opportunities for countries around the world and inject new impetus into global common development.

Distinguished guests and friends,

For thousands of years, Chinese civilization and Persian civilization have exchanged and learned from each other along the long and winding Silk Road. In the late Sasanian dynasty, the technique of silk reeling had been introduced from China to Persia. More than two thousand years ago, the lute was introduced to China via Persia and became an indispensable instrument in Chinese folk music.

Our common memory of the past never fades away, and the future for new friendship is right now.  Over the past 53 years since our two countries established diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have enjoyed sound and steady growth. Facing the complex regional and international landscape, China and Iran have advanced exchanges and cooperation in various areas, and maintained sound communication and coordination on regional and international affairs, which have benefited both peoples and contributed to regional and world peace and stability.

China and Iran are good friends with mutual political trust. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China always views and develops relations with Iran from a strategic perspective. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said, Iran looks forward to more extensive cooperation with China. The important consensus reached by the two heads of state on developing bilateral relations leads to comprehensive advancement of cooperation in various fields between the two sides.

China and Iran are good partners with mutual benefit. China has been Iran's largest trading partner for many years. China has provided a lot of training to Iran in the fields of agriculture, clean energy, and poverty reduction, ecological and environmental protection, etc. Since 2023, the number of Iranian participants has reached nearly 200.

China and Iran are good mates with mutual learning. Chinese and Iranian delegations in various fields, including culture, youth, sports, and education, frequently visit each other, and exchanges between the two countries in tourism, archaeology, film, and talent training are becoming increasingly close.

China and Iran are good brothers in the "Global South". China and Iran are both important developing countries and emerging economies. They practice true multilateralism on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and uphold the basic norms of international relations and the international order.

Recently, when I visited various places in Iran, I learned more about how China and Iran, which met and knew each other on the ancient Silk Road, are now learning from each other in the process of high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road. One story after another of China-Iran friendship connects the beautiful historical scrolls between the two civilizations and two countries on the ancient and modern Silk Road. Learning from the past and looking to the future, China is willing to continue to work together with Iran to inherit the spirit of the Silk Road and create a better future for China-Iran relations.

There is an old Chinese saying: "Spring brings flowers and autumn brings fruits." Autumn is the season of harvest. We are about to see a great harvest coming forth from the seeds of friendship that we have jointly sown.

We would like to extend our best wishes

To the greater success of China and Iran,

To the ever-lasting friendship between our two nations,

To the health and success of all our distinguished guests today,

Thank you!