Fellow Countrymen, Comrades and Friends:

Today, we gather here in the majestic Tian'anmen Square for a grand celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. This is a big festival for the people of all ethnic groups in China and a solemn ceremony to review our achievements and strength.

Top Party and Government leaders on the Tiananmen Rostrum (from left): Li Lanqing, Hu Jintao, Zhu Rongji, Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Li Ruihuan and Wei Jianxing (LI XUEREN)

On behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the Central Military Commission, I would like to pay high tribute to all the revolutionaries of the older generation and martyrs who performed immortal feats for the independence, unification, democracy and prosperity of the motherland. I also wish to extend warm festive greetings to the people of all ethnic groups in China and all patriotic compatriots at home or overseas, and to express sincere gratitude to foreign friends and people of the world that care for and support China's development.

Fifty years ago today, Chairman Mao Zedong proclaimed here to the world the birth of New China. Hence the Chinese people stood up and the Chinese nation entered a brand new era of development.

Fifteen years ago today, Comrade Deng Xiaoping declared here to the world that the Chinese people would continue their march on the road of reform and opening-up, and that China would stride forward in building socialism, like a ship braving the wind and waves, towards the glorious destination of modernization.

Arduous struggle and strenuous efforts of fifty years, particularly the past twenty years since reform and the opening-up, have brought about earth-shaking changes to the erstwhile poor and weak old China. Under the leadership of the Communist Party, the hard-working, courageous and talented people of China have worked wonders on this ancient Chinese land to the admiration of the world.

Practice has fully proved that socialism is the only way to save and develop China. It has also proved that building socialism with Chinese characteristics is a broad road to economic prosperity and all-round social progress in China.

Mankind now again stands at a critical juncture - the turn of the century and the dawn of a new millennium. It is a good moment for the people to review the past journey and accomplishments and look ahead into future development and prospects.

From the middle of the last century to that of this century, we Chinese people fought with blood and life for 100 years and finally attained national independence and liberation, thus changing our own destiny once and for all. From the middle of this century to that of the next, the Chinese people, with hard and enterprising work of 100 years, will by and large bring about socialist modernization. The Chinese nation will stand rock-firm in the family of nations.

Our great motherland has traversed a course of five thousand years. In this long history, the Chinese nation has, with its own wisdom, ingenuity and outstanding creative-ness, made indelible contribution to world civilization. In the new millennium, it will contribute even more to world civilization with splendid new achievements.

We will continue to adhere to the Party's basic theory, basic line and basic program and, by virtue of the strength of the people of all ethnic groups in China, go on achieving fresh successes in building socialism with Chinese characteristics in the coming new century.

We will continue to pursue the policy of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and ultimately accomplish the national reunification of Taiwan with the mainland following the successful return of Hong Kong and Macao. The complete reunification of the motherland and the maintenance of its security are the very foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the unshakable will of all the Chinese people.

We will continue to pursue the independent foreign policy of peace and develop friendly relations and cooperation with all other countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The Chinese people will, as always, side with the vast number of developing countries and the people throughout the world, oppose hege-monism, promote global multipolarity, push for the establishment of a just and equitable new international political and economic order and work unremittingly for the lofty cause of world peace and development.

Hard work involves hardships, and hardships give rise to new development. This is a universal law. China has an extremely bright future. Let us hold high the great banner of Marxism, Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory and march bravely toward our sublime objectives. China will surely emerge as a prosperous, strong, democratic and culturally advanced modern socialist country in the east of the world.

Long live the great People's Republic of China!

Long live the great Communist Party of China!

Long live the great Chinese people!

(Beijing Review No. 42, 1999)