The Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Joachim Gunsalam,
The Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Masidi bin Manjun,
The Honorable Minister of Local Government and Housing of Sabah, Datuk Dr. Haji Mohd Arifin bin Mohd Arif,
The Honorable Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry of Sabah, Datuk Jamawi bin Ja’afar,
The Honorable Minister of Rural Development of Sabah, Datuk Rubin bin Balang,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished Guests,
Good evening!
It is a great pleasure to be here with so many old and new friends as we celebrate the 77th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China. On behalf of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Kota Kinabalu, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests joining us tonight. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to friends from all walks of life who have long cared about China’s development and supported China-Malaysia friendship. I would like to extend my warmest festive greetings to all overseas Chinese, Chinese students and Chinese professionals living and working in Sabah.
Over the past 77 years, China has moved forward through extraordinary challenges and undergone profound transformation. When the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1949, the country was poor and weak, with a great deal to be rebuilt. Today, China is the world’s second-largest economy, largest manufacturer, largest trader in goods, and second-largest consumer market. In China today, the skies are bluer, the mountains are greener, and the waters are clearer. The Chinese people’s aspirations for a better life are being steadily fulfilled.
This year also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Over the past century and more, the CPC has remained committed to seeking truth, stayed firmly rooted in the people, shouldered its historic mission with courage, followed the trend of the times, dare to struggle and know how to struggle, and lay emphasis on self-strengthening. It has fundamentally changed the future and destiny of the Chinese people, opened the right path toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and profoundly influenced the course of world history. This is a choice made by history, and more importantly, one made by the 1.4 billion Chinese people.
This year marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period. Guided by the new development philosophy, China is pursuing high-quality development, steadily cultivating new growth drivers, and unleashing its vast potential for innovation. In the first half of this year, China’s economy grew by 4.7 percent year-on-year, placing it among the top performers of major economies. New growth drivers, represented by high-end manufacturing, the digital and intelligent economy, and modern services, contributed more than 40 percent of economic growth.
The next generation of the “three new” drivers of foreign trade — robotics, artificial intelligence and innovative medicines — is also developing rapidly, becoming a new hallmark of China’s foreign trade. China is moving from being the “factory of the world” toward becoming an “innovation powerhouse”. Today, China is offering the world an ever-growing range of new products, new technologies and new solutions.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Humanity has only one Earth, and the destinies of all countries are closely intertwined. In the face of a turbulent and changing world, China always views its own development in the broader context of human progress. We develop ourselves through our engagement with the world, while contributing to global prosperity and stability through our own development.
In recent years, China has proposed the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative. Together, these initiatives form an integrated framework: development promotes prosperity, security safeguards stability, civilization strengthens mutual trust, and governance advances greater fairness and justice. They seek to turn the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind into reality and inject greater stability and positive energy into a turbulent world. A more open and prosperous China will provide a broader market and greater opportunities for development. China stands ready to bring greater certainty to the global economy and share its market, opportunities and development gains with the world through wider opening-up.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
China and Malaysia are close neighbours across the sea, with a traditional friendship that dates back more than a thousand years. Last year, the leaders of our two countries jointly drew up a grand blueprint for building a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future. This ushered in a new “Golden 50 Years” of bilateral relations and charted the course for both countries to advance modernization, safeguard regional peace and promote common prosperity.
The year 2026 marks the beginning of Malaysia’s 13th Malaysia Plan and the “Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0” development roadmap. Both China and Malaysia are now at a crucial stage of their respective development and national revitalization. China stands ready to deepen development synergies with Malaysia and empower each other’s modernization efforts. We look forward to expanding cooperation in four key areas: the digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy. Together, we can promote integrated, coordinated and complementary development and take our high-level strategic community with a shared future to new heights.
China-Sabah cooperation is a vivid reflection of the flourishing China-Malaysia relationship. It demonstrates how mutually beneficial cooperation can bring tangible benefits to local communities and peoples. Chinese enterprises have actively participated in Sabah’s economic and social development, and our cooperation has continued to expand and deliver fruitful results. Kibing Solar Glass Group has built and put into operation three production lines, creating nearly 2,000 local jobs. The Upper Padas Hydroelectric Project, currently under construction, is the largest power infrastructure project in Sabah. Once completed, it is expected to account for around 20 percent of Sabah’s total power supply. The expansion of Sepanggar Bay Container Port will significantly increase the port’s handling capacity and help ease congestion. Meanwhile, the new tourist terminal in Kota Kinabalu is now operational, serving as an important maritime transport hub as well as a new landmark along the city’s coastline.
In the first seven months of 2026, more than half million Chinese tourists visited Sabah, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 30 percent and accounting for nearly 60 percent of Sabah’s total international tourist arrivals. As people-to-people exchanges grow closer, the bridge of friendship and mutual understanding between China and Malaysia is becoming ever stronger.
Looking ahead, we stand ready to work with the Sabah State Government and friends from all walks of life to translate the important consensus reached by our leaders into concrete cooperation projects, and turn our shared aspirations into tangible outcomes, so that more people can benefit from the enduring friendship between China and Malaysia, and between China and Sabah.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we forge ahead with confidence and create new prospects in the new era, we are embarking on a new journey toward a brighter future. We firmly believe that peace and development remain the prevailing trend of our times, and win-win cooperation remains the shared aspiration of people everywhere. China stands ready to work with all countries and regions, including Malaysia and Sabah, to walk hand in hand, support one another, share development opportunities and work together to build a brighter future.
Finally, let us jointly wish the People’s Republic of China prosperity, peace and stability!
May the friendship between China and Malaysia endure and flourish! May China-Sabah cooperation continue to grow and yield ever more fruitful results!
As a famous Chinese poem goes, “As the bright moon rises above the sea, we share this moment together no matter how far apart we are.”
In just three days, we will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, an important traditional Chinese festival to celebrate togetherness and reunion. Tonight, we have prepared mooncakes for you to enjoy and share.
May I wish all our distinguished guests good health, success in your careers, and happiness and harmony for your families.
Thank you!