New Start, New Opportunities

新起点、新机遇

 

Ambassador Li Minggang Published a Signed Article on Daily Post

驻瓦努阿图大使李名刚在《每日邮报》发表署名文章

 

25 March 2023

2023年3月25日

 

2022 was an extraordinary year for both China and Vanuatu. Together, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. And respectively, we completed our own important domestic agenda almost at the same time. The Communist Party of China (CPC) successfully convened its 20th National Congress. President Xi Jinping was re-elected General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. This fully reflects the common will of and firm support from the whole Party and people across the country. President of Vanuatu and leaders of many Ni-Vanuatu political parties sent congratulatory letters, which showcase the high-level mutual trust and firm mutual support between our two countries.

2022年对中瓦来说都是意义非凡的一年。我们不仅共同庆祝了中瓦建交40周年，而且几乎同时分别完成了各自国内的重大政治议程。中国共产党胜利召开第二十次全国代表大会，习近平同志再次当选中共中央总书记，充分体现了全党全国各族人民对习总书记的拥护和爱戴。瓦努阿图总统和各政党领袖纷纷致函祝贺，彰显出了我们两国之间高水平的政治互信和相互支持。

 

In the Report to the 20th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi pointed out that China, guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith and with a commitment to the greater good and shared interests, endeavors to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries and safeguard the common interests of the developing world. China is committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world and pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, and strives to create new opportunities for the world with its own development. The Report points out the way forward for China to open-up even further and deepen China-Vanuatu relations. I am convinced that with unity and joint efforts, China-Vanuatu comprehensive strategic partnership will continue to flourish for the benefit of our peoples.

习总书记所作的党的二十大报告指出，中国将秉持真实亲诚理念和正确义利观加强同发展中国家团结合作，维护发展中国家共同利益；将坚定奉行互利共赢的开放战略，不断以中国新发展为世界提供新机遇。这为中国不断扩大对外开放和深化对瓦关系指明了前进方向。我相信，在双方相向而行、共同努力下，中瓦全面战略伙伴关系的内涵将日益丰富，更好惠及两国人民。

 

For long, the Chinese people values history as a mirror, and learns from history to foresee the future. With the COVID-19 pandemic raging around the world in the past year, stability of the global supply and industrial chain and economic recovery of all countries including China and Vanuatu remained under serious threat. Yet in spite of these, our two countries never flinched in the face of difficulties. Instead, we stood side by side to meet the challenges.

中国人素来重视以史为鉴，察往知来。回首过去一年，新冠疫情继续在全球范围内延宕肆虐，严重威胁全球产供链稳定和包括中瓦在内的世界各国的经济复苏。尽管如此，我们双方从未畏难止步，而是共克疫情，并肩前行。

 

In the past year, President Xi Jinping interacted frequently with Ni-Vanuatu leaders through letters and messages, leading sound and steady development of our bilateral relations. On March 26, the 40th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations, President Xi pointed out that China-Vanuatu relations have become a model of mutual respect, solidarity and coordination between developing countries in his message of congratulations to President of Vanuatu. This remark not only highly commends the development of our bilateral relations for the last four decades, but also points out the direction for China to deepen its friendship with Vanuatu. In June, China’s then State Councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi successfully visited Vanuatu. During the visit both sides reached extensive consensus to enhance political mutual trust, stay committed to mutual benefit and win-win results, carry forward the friendship between the peoples, deepen strategic coordination and strengthen regional cooperation, which gave strong boost to the sustainable and healthy development of our comprehensive strategic partnership.

过去一年里，习近平主席通过信函、贺电等方式同瓦国家领导人频繁互动，引领两国关系行稳致远。习主席在去年3月26日中瓦建交40周年纪念日同瓦总统互致贺信时，表示中瓦关系已成为发展中国家相互尊重、团结协作的典范。这既是对建交40年来两国关系发展的高度肯定，更为中方下阶段发展对瓦友好指明了方向。时任国务委员兼外长王毅去年6月初成功访瓦，双方就增进政治互信、坚持互利共赢、赓续人民友谊、深化战略协作、加强地区合作等达成广泛共识，有力促进两国全面战略伙伴关系持续健康发展。

 

In the past year, China-Vanuatu practical cooperation moved forward steadily across the board. When Vanuatu was hit by COVID-19 in the first half of 2022, China extended its helping hand to Vanuatu in COVID-19 response, donated 100,000 doses of vaccines and medical supplies including ventilators, protective suit, etc., and aided the construction of a quarantine facility at Northern Provincial Hospital. We worked together towards the on-time completion of the Port Vila City Community Sports Complex and Tanna Road Phase II, and the partial handover of the Malekula Road Phase II. The new Chinese Medical Team comprised of 9 doctors have already served in Vanuatu for almost 6 months, reaching Tanna to deliver medical care to the doorstep. The China-aided office building projects of the Presidential Palace, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance are also progressing steadily. Furthermore, the bilateral annual trade volume has increased to nearly 100 million US dollars.

过去一年里，中瓦各领域务实合作稳步推进。在上半年瓦疫情最严重时期，中方及时伸出援手，捐赠10万剂新冠疫苗和呼吸机、防护服等物资，并援建北方医院小型隔离设施，全力帮助瓦方抗击疫情。同时，我们共同努力，推动佛山市援瓦维拉港市综合体育场项目、塔纳岛公路二期项目按期竣工，推动马勒库拉岛公路二期项目部分路段建成交付。由9名医生组成的新一批中国援瓦医疗队已在瓦开展医疗服务半年有余，并曾赴塔纳岛巡诊，送医上岛。中国援建的总统府、外交部、财政部办公楼项目也稳步推进。此外，中瓦双边贸易额实现逆势增长，增至近1亿美元。

 

Recently, Vanuatu was hit by two consecutive super hurricanes, resulting in the destruction of a large number of residential buildings and public facilities and significant property losses. China attaches great importance to this and has launched emergency humanitarian disaster relief assistance to Vanuatu immediately. In order to quickly deliver relief materials to Vanuatu, China has provided a batch of emergency relief materials worth about 100 million vatu including tents, folding beds, first-aid kits and etc. to Vanuatu through a charter flight. At the same time, the Chinese government provided USD 500,000 in cash aid to the Vanuatu government, and the Red Cross Society of China provided USD 100,000 in cash aid to Vanuatu for the local procurement of disaster relief materials such as food, drinking water, medical supplies, and the deployment of disaster relief personnel in Vanuatu. China will continue to provide assistance within its capacity according to the needs of Vanuatu, and support the Vanuatu government and people in rebuilding their beautiful homeland at an early date.

近日，瓦连遭两次超强飓风侵袭，大量民房和公共设施被毁，造成重大财产损失。中方高度重视并第一时间启动对瓦紧急人道主义救灾援助工作。为尽快将救援物资送到瓦政府和灾民手中，中方采取包机运输方式向瓦方紧急援助了帐篷、折叠床、急救包等总价值约1亿瓦图的应急救灾物资。同时，中国政府向瓦政府提供了50万美元现汇援助、中国红十字会向瓦方提供了10万美元现汇援助，用于瓦方在当地采购食品、饮用水和医药用品等救灾物资及部署救灾人员。中方将根据瓦方需要，继续提供力所能及帮助，支持瓦政府和人民早日重建美好家园。

 

Through solid practical cooperation mentioned above, our partnership and brotherhood is now closer than ever. Vanuatu Foreign Minister Jotham Napat recently published an official statement on China-Vanuatu relations entitled “Vanuatu, China Relations Healthy and Flourishing.” Reflecting on the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations over the past 40 years, I see the key lies in the following. Politically, we always adhere to mutual respect, trust and equality. Economically, we always strive for win-win cooperation and common development. And culturally, we always embrace openness, inclusiveness and mutual learning.

通过以上务实合作，我们两国之间的伙伴关系和兄弟情谊愈发深厚。纳帕特外长年初专门就中瓦关系公开发表题为《瓦中关系健康繁荣》的正式声明。同时，我对两国关系40多年来保持健康稳定发展有了更加深入的思考，认为其关键就在于双方始终坚持在政治上相互尊重、平等互信，在经济上合作共赢、共谋发展，在文化上开放包容、交流互鉴。

 

Both developing countries, China and Vanuatu share similar historical experiences. Because of this, we both highly value independence, self-reliance and self-improvement, and are both striving to meet our people’s aspirations for a better life. It has been over half a year since I arrived in Vanuatu as the new Chinese Ambassador. During this period of time, I have had multiple discussions with Vanuatu Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and other leaders, visited local communities, and been to Malekula and other islands for field trips. These experiences helped me get a more profound understanding of our huge cooperation potential and broad development prospects in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, public health, education, tourism, marine economy, infrastructure and climate change response, etc.

我们同为发展中国家，有着相似的历史经历。正因如此，我们都高度珍视独立自主自强，都在为更好地满足人民对美好生活的需求而努力奋斗。作为中国新任驻瓦大使，我来瓦已逾半载。在这段时间里，我多次同瓦总理、外长等政要座谈交流，多次走访社区，并赴马勒库拉岛等实地考察，愈发深刻地认识到两国在农林渔业、公共卫生、教育、旅游、海洋经济、基础设施建设、应对气候变化等领域巨大的合作潜力和广阔的发展前景。

 

China recently held the annual National Two Sessions in Beijing. Held in the first year of fully implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, they are of profound historical significance. Comrade Xi Jinping was re-elected as President of China, providing the most fundamental political guarantee for the continuation of China’s policies and future development. The 2023 government work report also made it clear that China will make solid progress in advancing Chinese modernization and deepen reform and opening up in all respects. I believe that with a vast and open market, China is sure to provide even greater business opportunities for enterprises from all over the world, including Vanuatu.

中方日前在北京召开全国两会。这是在全面贯彻中共二十大精神开局之年召开的一次全国两会，意义重大。习近平同志再次当选国家主席，为中国政策延续和未来发展提供了最根本的政治保障。政府工作报告也明确表示要扎实推进中国式现代化、全面深化改革开放。我相信，开放的中国大市场，一定能为包括瓦在内的各国企业提供更多发展机遇。

 

This year we celebrate the 41st anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Vanuatu. China will continue to work with Ni-Vanuatu friends from all walks of life, keep our original aspiration and mission in mind, earnestly implement the consensus reached by leaders of our two countries, actively promote synergy among the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Vanuatu 2030 Sustainable Development Plan, strengthen high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, together strive for a happier and better life for our peoples, and usher in a new chapter of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

今年是中瓦建交41周年。中方愿同瓦方各界朋友一道努力，不忘初心和使命，认真落实两国领导人达成的共识，积极推动全球发展倡议、全球安全倡议与瓦2030可持续发展计划深化对接，推进高质量共建“一带一路”，努力为两国人民创造更加美好的生活，谱写互利共赢新篇章。