Distinguished Guests, Friends, My dear Chinese nationals, Ladies and Gentlemen:

Good Evening!

It is my great pleasure to host this Chinese Lunar New Year Reception and Gansu Long Theatre Art Troupe performance. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warm welcome and Chinese new year greetings to all of you and express my heartfelt thanks for what you have done to strengthen friendship and cooperation between China and Bahrain. Here I would particularly thank for the great support and assistance of President Shaikha Mai and all the friends of Bahrain Authority of Culture and Antiquities to collaborate with our Embassy to host the performance of Happy Chinese New Year!

The year 2016 has been a momentous and memorable year for us Chinese. President XI Jinping led Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted endeavor to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and kept China’s position as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. China’s overall strength and international standing have significantly risen.

The year 2017 will be an important year in China’s course of development and the 19th CPC National Congress will be held. We will, under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core, achieve all the expected goals and continue to make greater contributions for the social development of mankind.

In the year of 2017, with the deep integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, I firmly believe that our bilateral friendly relations and cooperation in all aspects will have more beautiful prospects with our joint efforts. The Chinese people and Bahraini people will always stand together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Chinese New Year of Rooster is approaching, let’s greet the New Year with full confidence and great hope! In the traditional Chinese culture, rooster symbolizes bright prospect and auspiciousness. I would like to wish all of my friends at present to have good health and happy Chinese new year of Rooster. Let’s enjoy the wonderful performance of the Gansu Long Theatre Art Troupe together. Thank you!