Mr. Mikael Appelqvist, Head of Protocol at the County Administrative Board of Västra Götaland,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
Good afternoon! Today, we are gathered here to jointly celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. On this occasion of national celebration, on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Gothenburg, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all friends who have long been supporting China-Sweden friendship, and extend sincere festive greetings to our Chinese compatriots in the consular district!
Looking back on the 77 glorious years since the founding of New China, we have embarked on a path of development suited to China's national conditions. We have created the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability, contributing China's wisdom and solutions to world peace and development
Along this path of endeavor, we have forged ahead through thick and thin, overcoming all obstacles. Looking further back, since the founding of the Communist Party of China 105 years ago, the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, under the strong leadership of the CPC, have achieved great successes in the new-democratic revolution, the socialist revolution and construction, as well as the reform, opening up, and socialist modernization. We have achieved the historic leap in the people's living standards from inadequate food and clothing to moderate prosperity in all respects, writing the most magnificent epic in the millennia-long history of the Chinese nation.
Along this path of development, we have forged ahead through wind and rain, pressing forward with fortitude. In 2025, China's GDP reached approximately 19.6 trillion US dollars, accounting for around 17% of the global economy and firmly securing its position as the world's second-largest economy. The year 2026 marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. As China comprehensively advances Chinese modernization, it continuously achieves new breakthroughs in fields such as technological innovation, rural revitalization, green development, and the improvement of people's livelihood. Frontier technologies, including commercial aerospace, quantum information, integrated circuits, and nuclear fusion, are advancing by leaps and bounds. New quality productive forces, such as artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, new energy vehicles, and the low-altitude economy, are developing rapidly. We actively promote a smooth "dual circulation" of domestic and international markets, foster a welcoming environment for foreign investment, deepen cooperation on industrial and supply chains, and promote the expansion and opening-up of China's mega market, making "China Opportunity 2.0" a global consensus.
Along this path of friendship, we have stood together through thick and thin, marching forward hand in hand. In recent years, President Xi Jinping has proposed four major global initiatives. From the four dimensions of development, security, civilization, and governance, these initiatives have injected strong momentum into the joint building of a better world and provided strategic guidance for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. This fully demonstrates China's determination and confidence in sticking to the path of peaceful development, firmly upholding multilateralism, and actively participating in the reform of the global governance system. Sweden is the first Western country to establish diplomatic relations with New China, and the two countries have long been each other's largest trading partners in Asia and the Nordic region respectively. In 2025, our bilateral trade volume reached 19.37 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%. Over the past two years, by focusing on a positive agenda and tapping deeply into the potential for cooperation, China-Sweden relations have continued to warm up and improve. In July this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Sweden, and both sides reached positive consensuses on promoting the sound, stable and sustainable development of China-Sweden relations. I hope our Swedish friends will make good use of the unilateral visa-free policy for Sweden to visit China more often and see it with their own eyes. Chinese Consulate General in Gothenburg will, as always, promote economic and trade exchanges and friendly interactions between our two nations, and fully protect the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese citizens and institutions.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the world today is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. The international situation is intertwined with change and turbulence, and various risks and challenges emerge one after another. However, the trend of the times for peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit remains irreversible. Let us work together to make full use of the complementary economic advantages between our two countries, actively explore the potential for practical cooperation, and create more tangible benefits for our two peoples, thereby contributing to elevating our bilateral relations to a new height!
In conclusion, I sincerely wish our great motherland prosperity and strength! May the friendship between the Chinese and Swedish peoples last forever! I wish all guests happiness, health, and well-being!
Thank you all!