First of all, I would like to extend my sincere greetings to His Majesty King Letsie III, the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Matekane, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice, the Deputy Prime Minister, and the King’s Ministers, especially the Minister of Finance, Minister of Trade,Industry and Business Development and Minister of Gender, Youth and Social Development who are present here tonight. I am very glad to see the three Ministers and all our friends from Lesotho at this event. But as a guest, I should leave the words of thanks to the hosts. On this special day, I will mainly speak in Mandarin and repeat the key points in English. 

Dear compatriots,

I am very glad to gather with you all to celebrate the approaching Spring Festival of the Year of the Snake to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. This is the first time in recent years that our compatriots in Lesotho have held a Spring Festival Gala. I am as happy and excited as all of you. Another special reason for today's Spring Festival Gala is that the upcoming Spring Festival will be the first "Intangible Cultural Heritage" Spring Festival. In December 2024, China's application for "Spring Festival - social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional new year" was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. The Spring Festival will remain the most important festival for the Chinese people and will also become a day of celebration for the whole world.

For every Chinese person, celebrating the Spring Festival is a call for family reunion, the elders' anticipation of their children's return home, the joy and laughter of children, the warmth of family and friends gathering together, and the hope and blessing for a prosperous and peaceful new year. It is precisely because of its profound cultural heritage, rich humanistic philosophy and widely accepted values that the Spring Festival has been listed as a representative of intangible cultural heritage of humanity. I believe that Chinese culture represented by the Spring Festival will play an increasingly important role in promoting world development and maintaining world peace. The great trend of mutual learning and exchange among civilizations will surely become the way for different civilizations to coexist. We are proud and excited about the recognition of the Spring Festival as intangible cultural heritage, and we are willing to share the joy of the festival with people all over the world.

Dear compatriots,

When we look back on 2024, the first thing we see is the development achievements of our motherland. We celebrated the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and successfully held the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, embarking on a new journey of further deepening reform comprehensively. Coordinated development across regions has gained stronger momentum. Green and low-carbon development has been further enhanced. Indeed, a more beautiful China is unfolding before us. The GDP for the year expected to pass the 130 trillion yuan mark. Grain output has surpassed 700 million tons. The annual production of new energy vehicles has exceeded 10 million for the first time. Abundant achievements and innovative breakthroughs have been made in fields such as integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, quantum communication, aviation and navigation. This year, basic pension has been raised, and mortgage rates have dropped. Cross-province direct settlement of medical bills has been expanded, making it easier for people to seek medical treatment across the country. China's major country diplomacy has also been full of highlights. We are making deeper and more substantive advances in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was a full success. We put forward China's vision at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, APEC, G20 and other bilateral and multilateral forums. We have contributed greatly to the maintenance of world peace and stability.

2024 is also a year of harvest for China-Lesotho relations. We have jointly witnessed and celebrated the 30th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Lesotho and the 200th anniversary of Lesotho's founding. The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Matekane led a delegation to attend the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and successfully completed his first official visit to China. During the visit, the bilateral relationship between China and Lesotho was upgraded to a strategic partnership. The two countries have achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation. The Maseru District Hospital, the Mpiti to Sehlaba-Thebe Road, the Fingerprint Laboratory and other projects have been completed and handed over. China has provided more than 300 government scholarships and various training opportunities for Lesotho. Lesotho has actively supported China's propositions such as a community with a shared future for mankind, the Belt and Road Initiative and the three major global initiatives, and has given strong support to China on issues concerning China's core interests. China-Lesotho relations have become a model of equality and win-win cooperation between countries with different systems, and we are very pleased about this.

Dear compatriots and friends,

This is my first Spring Festival in Lesotho. In the past six months since I took office, I have visited all ten districts of Lesotho. The northern highlands and mountains are like the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China; the western hills and valleys resemble the hilly and mountainous areas in China; the eastern high mountains and rapid rivers are like the Hengduan Mountains in China; the Katse Reservoir is like a shining pearl. In a word, Lesotho is a great place to live. 

In the past six months, I have visited compatriots in several regions. Whenever I see trucks carrying liquefied gas tanks on the road, children running with colorful balloons in their hands, solar panels shining under the sun, and smoke rising from restaurants, I can't help but think of the hard work of our compatriots behind all these. Compatriots are engaged in the same, similar or different occupations in various regions of Lesotho, and their lives and work reflect the virtues of the Chinese nation, such as diligence and hard work. 

In the past six months, I have communicated with many compatriots. What I have heard is that they abide by laws and regulations, respect local customs and integrate into the local society. What I have heard is that they get along well with the Basotho people and work together. What I have heard is that they help local residents solve problems, deal with difficulties and challenges together. The friendship between compatriots and the Basotho people is part of the friendship between our two countries.

In the past six months, I have communicated with all the overseas Chinese associations in Lesotho. I have felt the important role they play in promoting unity and mutual support among compatriots, and also felt the trust compatriots have in the these associations. I believe that all the associations will continue to unite compatriots. Here, I would like to say a few words to our compatriots in Taiwan. There is only one China in the world, and both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China. At this moment, the most beautiful words are "We are one family."

Dear compatriots and friends,

I would like to express my gratitude to all the guests present for your staunch support for the work of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Lesotho and myself. In the new year, the Embassy will continue to be a practitioner of implementing the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, a pioneer in deepening China-Lesotho friendship, and a guardian of serving and protecting Chinese compatriots in Lesotho. We will strengthen communication and coordination with various departments of the Lesotho government, accelerate the implementation of the outcomes of Beijing Summit, and strive to bring benefits to the two countries and their people at an early date. 

Finally, let's raise our glasses together and once again wish all compatriots and friends present a prosperous year of the Snake, a happy Spring Festival, good health, longevity and abundant wealth! May China-Lesotho friendship reach new heights!