March 5,2015

Respected Indian Friends,
Dear Chinese Compatriots,
Representatives from Chinese Companies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good Evening!

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all at famous Taj Hotel to celebrate the Chinese traditional festival, the Lantern Festival of the Year of Sheep and the Indian Holy. At this beautiful special moment, on behalf of all diplomats of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Mumbai, I and my wife Madam Li Fanghui, would like to extend our season's greetings to all Chinese compatriots, Chinese students, staff members of the Chinese companies and Indian friends in Mumbai, wish you good luck, happy family life, booming business, progressive learning and wealth for the new year!

The past year was the landmark in the history of Sino-India relationship. It was the first time after 8 years, in the month of September 2014 Chinese president Xi Jingping, paid the state visit to India. It was the very first state visit after the new Indian Government came into the rule. State leaders of the two countries had reached very important consensus on building closer development partner ties, programming the blue print of bilateral relation development within 5 to 10 years to come, opening up a new chapter for Sino-Indian relationship.

The year of 2015 is the 65 anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and India, and It's also the " Year of India Tourism". This will bring a new hot wave of booming contacts. Just recently, the Consulate General organized a coverage tour to Mumbai for some media friends from Shanghai. They were all surprised. And concluded that what they had seen in Mumbai with their own eyes was largely different from what they had expected. Their reports have drawn very positive responses in Shanghai. In addition, Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraji paid visit to China and discussed with Chinese Foreign minister Wang Yi on the issues of Prime Minister Modi's visit to China, cooperation in the sectors of tourism, trade and culture and etc. and reached agreements. In the new year, both parties will carry out the multiple agreements signed during President Xi's visit to India, among which includes setting up industrial parks, engaging in substantial cooperation on railway construction, providing government loans and lease to the Indian side.

Dear Friends, Mumbai was the residing place in India for the early Chinese migrants. There had been a China Town, Chinese language schools and many Chinese restaurants here. They introduced Chinese civilization to Mumbai and lived with local residents in harmony and contributed to the construction of new China. On the second day of this Spring Festival, I and my colleagues visited the Chinese Guanggong Temple, the only one in the large Mumbai area and were lucky to meet Mr. Tan Tangyun there. He recalled that since very young age he and his family had been looking after this hundred year old temple keeping the fire of Chinese nation burning continuously. The Loyalty and persistence of Indian Chinese like veteran Mr. Tan deeply touched our hearts. Ladies and gentlemen, Mumbai is the financial centre of India. A large number of Chinese enterprises like China Industrial and Commercial Bank have already run businesses here or are about to start businesses in Mumbai. As the practical cooperation continuously expands and deepens, Mumbai will become the hub of Sino-India exchanges and cooperation in the areas of banking, trade, science, tourism and culture. Mumbai is the pearl of India. It was from here that Dr. Kotnis and the aid-China medical team of India headed for China. Here has been a long tradition of India-Sino friendship. This evening, we are honored to have friends from India-China Chamber, Trans Asian Chamber, Somaiya Institute, Thakur Institute and the India China Friendship Association to celebrate together with us this warm Lantern Festival. Therefore, I also wish all Indian friends happy Holy, Indian economy prosperity and Sino-India friendship last forever.

Friends, have been attracting worldwide attention, the Chinese two sessions, namely 2015 Session of the Chinese People's Congress and 2015 Session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference are being held now in Beijing China. They predict that China will push forward opening up and legal rule with unprecedented determination and speed. To realize the great revival of our Chinese nation is the common dream shared by all Chinese including overseas Chinese and compatriots. For a long period of time, Indian Chinese and friends of India who have been friendly to China have done a lot of work for promoting Sino-India relations.

May I take this opportunity here to propose a toast for Sino-India friendship! Cheers!

Thank you very much.

Finally, my thanks also go to friends of TAJ Hotel. Your good service is much appreciated.