The speech made by the Director General of the Bureau of Southeast and South Asian Affairs, International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), Peng Xiubin at the National People’s Power (NPP) May Day rally.
“Today is a day of glory for all working people around the world. With heartfelt respect, I join you in celebrating May 1, International Workers’ Day. On behalf of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), I extend to you our sincere greetings, best regards and highest tributes.
Brothers and sisters, please take a moment to look at your hands. You will find the fragrance of tea leaves on the hands of our sisters in the tea factories, the stains of hard labour on the hands of our workers and the dust of chalk on the hands of our teachers. In China, the hands of workers and farmers carry the scent of rice.
Although China and Sri Lanka are distinct nations, the people of both countries share a common purpose. They nourish our families, strengthen our political parties, advance our nation, and shape our futures.
Sixty years ago, you played a crucial role in establishing the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), and throughout the years, your relentless efforts have fortified the organisation, ultimately leading to the formation of the National Peoples’ Power (NPP). Eventually last September you won the Presidential election, a new milestone in the history of Sri Lanka.
Culture of integrity
At this moment your hands are building a new Sri Lanka. Over the past eight months under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the support of all JVP and NPP members, your hands are bringing great change to this nation. In politics, you are creating a new culture of integrity, service, accountability and transparency. You have formed the smallest Cabinet in Sri Lankan history. The economic, industry and tourism sectors are reviving. The Clean Sri Lanka initiative and the Digital Sri Lanka plans are advancing. In society, prices are falling, jobs are increasing and lives are improving. People of all ethnic groups, faiths and religions live in harmony.
As a comrade, we rejoice in your achievements. We wish you even greater success. Comrades, this year marks the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). For 76 years the Communist Party of China (CPC) has empowered the Chinese people to accomplish remarkable feats through our diligent efforts. China, the world’s second-largest economy, is steadily enhancing its strength and improving living standards each day.
In particular, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 with the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping with the Unity of the Chinese people we have lifted nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty, a miracle in human history.
Leading contributor
China will keep its economic growth strategy and will remain a leading contributor to global growth and anchor of stability in this turbulent world. Right now under the leadership of the CPC, 1.4 billion Chinese people are marching forward in our own path to modernisation. We are confident that, with the efforts of the Chinese people, we will create a more promising future.
Comrades, Chinese achievements were made possible with support from Sri Lanka and all our neighbouring countries. We will never forget our brothers and sisters who stood with us through sunshine and storms. Sri Lanka is China’s good neighbour, trusted brother and reliable partner. For 68 years of our diplomatic ties, we have worked hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder showing the world how countries of different sizes can strive together.
With the JVP/NPP leading in Sri Lanka, fresh initiatives are emerging to support your nation’s development. This creates new avenues for strengthening China-Sri Lanka relations.
Mutual respect
Early this year President Dissanayake had paid a successful State visit to China, and President Xi Jinping met him. Together the two Presidents charted a shared vision for the future of our relations and our nations. On the new journey ahead, China will always stand together with Sri Lanka. Hand in hand we will respect and support each other and uphold mutually beneficial cooperation. Shoulder by shoulder we will build a China – Sri Lanka community with a shared future.
Let us join hands to bring more benefits to our countries and our people. Party-to-party relations are the backbone of the friendship. For decades the CPC and the JVP have worked side by side. My visit is to implement the important consensus reached by Presidents Jinping and Dissanayake.
Through the exchange of CPC and the JVP, the two governing parties of China and Sri Lanka will make China-Sri Lanka relations even stronger. As comrades, we will stick to the principles of mutual respect, mutual support, mutually beneficial cooperation and mutual learning seeking common ground while reserving differences making our friendship deeper and blood relations stronger.
Comrades, please look around your sisters and brothers beside you. They are doctors, teachers, workers, drivers, farmers, and waiters. They have different jobs but everyone is smiling and everyone’s faces are shining with hope. These smiles represent the support for the JVP and NPP, represent the trust in President Dissanayake and a good face in a brighter future.
Over the three days of my visit here one thing has impressed me and my colleagues most, the smiles of Sri Lankan people. From taxi drivers to hotel staff, from village farmers to market vendors, all smiled and gave thumbs up for the JVP and NPP and for your nation’s future. One taxi driver smiled and told me, ‘I have got a happy family, three children, steady work and life is good I support the JVP, NPP and our President.’ I believe his voice is the people’s voice.
We also met JVP leaders. They smiled as they recalled the stories of their friendship with the Communist Party of China, where they joined hands with the CPC to write a new chapter. We are all confident in the brighter future of the friendship between the CPC and JVP, NPP and between China and Sri Lanka.
Long live China-Sri Lanka relations, long live CPC, JVP, and NPP friendship.”
