This year marks the 97th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Since its founding on August 1, 1927, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese PLA has made great contributions to striving for national liberation, defending national sovereignty, security and development interests, and safeguarding world peace.
The Chinese PLA is committed to providing more public security products to the international community and has been actively participating in UN Peacekeeping missions, anti-piracy escort missions, international disaster-relief operations and humanitarian assistance operations, and playing an active role in international and regional cooperation in counter-terrorism. China is the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of the UN Security Council and the second largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping operations. Since 1990, the Chinese PLA has sent nearly 50,000 peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping missions in over 20 countries and regions. Seventeen Chinese military personnel have sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of world peace. The PLA Navy has sent more than 150 ships in 46 batches to the escort operations in the Gulf of Aden. They have safely escorted over 7300 Chinese and foreign ships and rescued and protected nearly 100 ships from piracy attacks. The Chinese naval hospital ship Peace Ark has carried out a series of Harmonious Missions, having provided free diagnosis and treatment services to more than 290,000 patients in around 45 countries.
Today's world has entered a new period of turbulence and change, and the international community is facing multiple crises and serious challenges. Peace and development have always been the universal aspiration and common desire of humanity. To achieve lasting peace and sustainable development, President Xi Jinping has propounded the idea of building a global community of shared future, as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. Regarding peace and security issues, China stays committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries, abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously, peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, and maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains. China values peace and harmony, seeks common security, opposes bloc confrontation, upholds equality and respect, emphasizes openness and inclusiveness, firmly pursues a national defence policy which is defensive in nature, and resolutely defends its core interests. China is and will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of international order.
China and Malta have enjoyed long traditional friendship and share similar positions and views on promoting world peace and human development. Both countries firmly support the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law and are advocates, practitioners and promoters of multilateralism and an open world economy.
Facing profound changes in the world, in our times, and in history, China is ready to continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation with Malta in various fields, including the armed forces, jointly uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and participate in international and regional security governance, so as to contribute to a security architecture featuring equality, mutual trust, joint contribution and shared benefits, and a beautiful world of lasting peace and security.
Thank you.