Welcome to this Gala dinner and thank you for joining us in celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is a great pleasure to see you all on this auspicious occasion.

The founding of the People's Republic of China 70 years ago is a great event in China's history. It marked the opening of a new era and fundamentally changed the direction of the history of China's development. It produced a profound impact on the development of the world history.

Over the past seven decades, staying true to its original aspiration and mission for pursuing happiness of the Chinese people and for rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, adhering to the people-centered approach, the Chinese Communist Party has united the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a strenuous struggle to build a strong and prosperous country, opened up a road that fits China's own conditions, that is, socialism with Chinese characteristics, and accomplished the most profound and the greatest social transformation ever occurred in the country's history.

The past seven decades have witnessed remarkable progress and great changes in China. The once impoverished China is now the world's second largest economy, the second largest importer of goods and services. Its social productivity and overall national strength have taken a historical stride. People's livelihood has improved significantly. Hundreds of millions of people have been lifted out of poverty. Next year China will realize the first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and following that, we will continue with the second goal of fully building a modern socialist country.

The past seven decades have seen the rise of China's international standing. As China is moving closer to center of global stage, it is playing an increasingly important role in international affairs, contributing its wisdom, its initiative and its strength to world peace and development. China's development has changed the world political landscape and opened up brighter prospects for human society, bringing unprecedented opportunities to the world.

Today, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The Chinese nation has achieved a tremendous transformation: it has stood up, grown rich, and is becoming strong; it has come to embrace the brilliant prospects of the nation's great renewal. The Chinese nation, with an entirely new posture, is standing tall and firm in the East.

We take great pride of what our great nation has achieved, and have full confidence in its great rejuvenation. China is a nation that has a five thousand year long civilization. It has the endurance and perseverance to sustain and overcome any hardships and difficulties. Despite many risks and challenges on our way ahead, our commitment and determination to national rejuvenation remains firm. We will maintain our strategic focus and unswervingly follow the path and direction that we have chosen. Nothing can prevent Chinese people from achieving the goal of the nation's great rejuvenation.

We will resolutely safeguard the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity, national security and unity as well as the rights of development.

We are endeavored to achieve peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Strait. We will firmly uphold One China Principle and resolutely oppose any separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence" in any form. China's complete reunification is a historic mission of the Chinese nation that must be accomplished along with its rejuvenation.

We will firmly uphold "one country, two systems" and do whatever we can to maintain prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. The continuous unrest and turmoil disrupts social order, threatens the rule of law and jeopardizes prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. To stop violence and end turmoil is urgent. The central government of China firmly supports the Hong Kong SAR government to restore law and order. Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, which allows no foreign interference. Any attempt to create chaos in Hong Kong, undermine the foundation of "one country, two systems" or even separate Hong Kong from China will have no way to prevail.  

Ladies and gentlemen,

China-US relations are among the most important bilateral relations in the world. Sound and stable China-US relations are in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the broad-based expectations of the international community. At the moment, China-US relationship stands at a critical juncture. To what direction the relationship is heading, and whether our two sides can handle the relationship properly will have a major impact on our two peoples and, to a large extent, determine the future of the world.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US. History of the relationship proves that China and the US both benefit from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Trade war is no solution to the trade imbalance. Trade frictions only create a lose-lose situation and harm the whole world. Decoupling is neither sensible nor realistic. Confrontation gets us to nowhere. Dialogue and cooperation is the only right choice. We shall not let differences and disputes define China-US relationship, nor shall we let prejudice and misjudgment dictate its future. We should work together to advance China-US relationship featuring coordination, cooperation and stability, properly manage the differences on the basis of mutual respect and expand cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit.

Southern California is the hometown of President Nixon. 47 years ago, leaders of both countries made the historic handshake across the Pacific out of our common interests. Today there still exists many common interests between us, ranging from fighting against terrorism, drug trafficking, to such issues as non proliferation, cyber security, climate change and sustainable development and so on. We need to expand cooperation in areas where we have common interests. The recent example of China's efforts to schedule the whole class of fentanyl-related substances which resulted in over 90% decrease of the cases intercepted by US CBP, proves the effectiveness of China-US cooperation.

China sticks to the path of peaceful development and adheres to the win-win strategy of opening up. China is a builder of world peace, contributor to global development and maintainer of international order. China's development is for providing a better life for its people. It will not follow the old path of past powers who sought hegemony. China is committed to working with the other countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind and will continue to push forward reform and open wider to outside world, so that all other countries can share the gains of China's development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

 China and the State of California have close economic and trade ties and strong people to people connections. California has attracted the biggest amount of investment, the biggest number of tourists and students from China among all the US states,  showcasing the mutually beneficial nature of China-US relations and demonstrating the vigor and vitality of sub-national cooperation. We need to make concerted efforts to preserve this good outcome and further advance our exchange and cooperation to bring more benefits to our peoples.

I am deeply touched when I heard friends of different walks of life expressing their genuine concern about and sincere wishes for China-US relations. The nice sentiments they expressed make me believe that there still exists a profound and deep-rooted friendship between our two peoples and give us the confidence in the future of China-US relations.

I wish to take this opportunity to thank our friends from all walks of life for your care and support to the China-U.S. relations.

As we move forward, we need your continuous support. We look forward to working with our friends to further expand China-US sub-national cooperation and promote a sound and steady development of China-US relations.

Now, I would like to propose a toast,

To the prosperity of China and the US, and happiness of our peoples,

To the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples,

To the good health of all our distinguished guests,

Cheers!