Dear Compatriots，

Thanks for the invitation from Taiwan compatriots. I am very pleased to welcome the Chinese New Year 2025 with our compatriots from both mainland and Taiwan here. First of all, please allow me to start my speech by quoting President Xi Jinping's 2025 New Year Message, “We Chinese from both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same family. No one can ever sever the bond of kinship between us, and no one can ever stop China's reunification, a trend of the times.”

Compatriots，

The year 2024 marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is also a crucial year for realizing the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has made a systematic plan to further deepen reform comprehensively and advance Chinese modernization. Various causes including reform, development and stabilization have made great strides, with brilliant achievements that have attracted the attention of the world. Chinese people are marching through thick and thin and rising to the challenge, and Chinese modernization is taking a new and solid step forward.

The year 2024 was a year for cross-Strait relations to gather momentum, envision the future and harbor new opportunities. General Secretary Xi Jinping led the way, met with Mr. Ma Ying-jeou and Taiwan's youth and drew the red line on the Taiwan question during the meeting between the two heads of state of China and the US. We adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, resolutely oppose “Taiwan independence” and interference by external forces, unite Taiwan compatriots in the pursuit of a better future of peaceful reunification and firmly guard the common homeland of the Chinese nation.

Compatriots,

In the past six months since I took up my new post in Lesotho, I have heard many touching stories of hard work and courage, as well as many stories of solidarity between mainland compatriots and Taiwan compatriots in Lesotho who have supported each other and fought hard together, which has become a vivid illustration of the unity, mutual support and solidarity of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait. The fundamental reason why compatriots from both sides of the Strait can be close to each other and work hand in hand to create a rich and beautiful life together is that we have always adhered to the one-China principle, inherited a common cultural lineage and cherished the aspiration of realizing reunification and national rejuvenation.

Compatriots,

The year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and Taiwan’s return to the motherland. History shows us that Chinese mainland and Taiwan region belong to an inseparable community of shared future and that a strong country and a powerful nation are the guarantee for the survival, development and dignity of every Chinese person, including our Taiwan compatriots. In the new year, we must firmly grasp the initiative in cross-Strait relations and promote cross-Strait relations in the right direction.

We must continue to build closer ties between compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese nation and Chinese culture are the underlying feature of cross-Strait exchanges. Chinese people from both sides of the Strait share the same history, culture and kinship. No one can cut them apart or change them. I believe that compatriots from both sides of the Strait share the common aspiration to inherit and promote the Chinese culture and Taiwan compatriots feel that we all Chinese deep in their hearts and are proud of their Chinese identity.

We should make every effort to protect our common homeland and resolutely oppose “Taiwan independence” and promote reunification. We will continue to adhere to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus and oppose “Taiwan independence”, work together to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and promote cross-Strait relations. We will not be lenient with the diehard "Taiwan independence" separatists and will not tolerate any act of secession. It is a simple truth that only when cross-Strait relations are good will Taiwan be good and it is the conviction and determination of all Chinese people that the complete reunification of our country must be realized, and it can, without doubt, be realized!

Compatriots.

To quote a Chinese saying, “When brothers are of the same mind, they have the power to cut through metal.” Finally, let's raise our glasses together and wish all the compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait in Lesotho good luck and good fortune, wish Chinese people from both sides of the Strait unity, friendship and a bright future and wish our great nation prosperity and strength!