Hegemony and power politics persist, and the international community is facing a danger of returning to the “law of the jungle”, and China will act on the basis of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, said His Excellency Ambassador Qi Zhenhong, Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka.
The Ambassador said this while addressing an event held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo on the 21st to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The event was attended by many distinguished guests including ministers, senior officers of the tri-services, ambassadors and diplomatic officials.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong further said:
The Honorable. Major General Aruna Jayasekara,Deputy Minister of Defense,The Honorable Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha， Secretary of Defense,Your Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa,Your Excellency Maithripala Sirisena,Your Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa,Your Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe,The Honorable Dinesh Gunawardena, The Honorable Karu Jayasuriya,The Honorable Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena,The Honourable Ministers, The Honourable Parliament ,Members, Distinguished Generals, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good evening！Ayubowan! Vanakkam !
On the occasion of the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army(PLA), on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, I would like to pay my highest respects to the glorious PLA and express my heartfelt gratitude to all friends who have cared for and supported China’s national defense and military modernization!
This year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, as well as the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March, and the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Looking back on China’s remarkable achievements, the most fundamental guarantee is the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China. Entering the new era, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening the military, the PLA upgrades military equipment, optimizes troop structure and enhances overall combat capabilities to safeguard national security and global peace.
The global landscape is undergoing profound changes, and hegemonism and power politics continue to prevail. The international community faces the danger of a return to “the law of the jungle”.China stands ready to work with all nations to firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, the international order based on international law, and the basic norms governing international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, while steadfastly practicing true multi-lateralism. China pursues external relations based on the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, and remains an important force for upholding international fairness and justice.
The Chinese military has actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations, international counter-terrorism cooperation, and counter-piracy escort missions, providing an increasing amount of international public goods and demonstrating the responsibility and commitment as a major country. The stronger China grows, the more peaceful the world becomes; the more China develops, the more prosperous the world gets.
The military-to-military relations between China and Sri Lanka are battle-tested. In recent years, military cooperation has been further deepened in multiple fields, covering defense consultations, personnel training, equipment and technical exchanges, etc. In the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, China provided the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence with supplies valued at 10 million RMB. As always, China stands ready to work with Sri Lanka to build strategic trust and continue to firmly support each other.
Building on past achievements, we will strive for even greater success. My colleagues and I will continue to make greater contributions to China-Sri Lanka friendship.
May I now invite you to raise your glasses:
Toast to the sustained and steady development of bilateral relations between our two countries and two militaries;
To regional peace and security;
And to global prosperity and development—Cheers!
Thank you very much!
