World leaders greet President Xi; astronauts observe founding of the PRC

Astronauts Chen Dong (center), Liu Yang (left) and Cai Xuzhe (right) send their National Day greetings from space. (PHOTO / CHINA MANNED SPACE ENGINEERING OFFICE)

Leaders from around the world extended warm congratulations on the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China — Oct 1, National Day — expressing their wishes for the success of the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the nation’s future development.

And, for the first time, celebrations of China’s National Day reached space, as the Shenzhou XIV astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station commemorated the 73rd anniversary of the PRC’s founding.

In a video released on Oct 1, astronauts Chen Dong, Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe sent a message wishing a happy birthday to their motherland. They expressed gratitude to the Chinese people for their support and to the great era, and vowed to accomplish their tasks “to fill space with the glory of the motherland”.

Government officials and various sectors in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions pledged full confidence in the future, as an array of activities were held in the cities to mark National Day.

Many world leaders conveyed their messages in letters or phone calls to President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

Csaba Korosi, president of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly, congratulated China on its achievements in promoting development and prosperity.

“As a founding member of the UN and a permanent member of the Security Council, China has been a strong buttress to the blue flag (of the UN),” Korosi said, adding that he was also pleased to hear of China’s support for efforts to combat climate change.

Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Zhang Ming also sent congratulatory messages.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Xi, the Chinese government and the Chinese people, expressing his belief that the two countries will continue to expand and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly contribute to international and regional prosperity and stability.

He said he looks forward to working closely with Xi in deepening bilateral friendship and cooperation in various fields, advancing bilateral relations, and working together to enhance the well-being of the peoples of the two countries.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on behalf of the Vietnamese party, government and people, extended warmest congratulations to Xi, as well as to the Chinese party, government and people.

They said that under the strong leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have united as one, overcome difficulties, and made great achievements in the course of national construction and development. They wished the 20th National Congress of the CPC full success.

Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee and the Lao president, said Laos is paying close attention to and is eagerly looking forward to the convening of the 20th CPC National Congress.

He expressed his belief that under the strong leadership of the CPC with Xi at its core, the Chinese people will make new and greater achievements in the new journey toward China’s second centenary goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects, and successfully realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, together with the Royal family and the Cambodian people, extended sincerest congratulations to Xi, the CPC, the Chinese government, the Chinese army and the Chinese people, wishing China prosperity and Chinese people happiness and well-being. 

Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn said that in the face of global challenges and various unstable factors, Thailand and China have always stood together and helped each other. He expressed firm belief that in line with common goals and through mutual support, the relationship between Thailand and China will continue to deepen, and practical cooperation in various fields will achieve greater development.

Singaporean President Halimah Yacob said China has built a dynamic and resilient national economy, eliminated absolute poverty, improved people’s living standards, and built a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Halimah said China has always been an active contributor to the international community.

Halimah wished the PRC lasting peace, stability and prosperity, adding that the friendship between Singapore and China is strong and time-honored, expressing belief that bilateral relations will enjoy stronger development momentum.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative proposed by Xi are based on the common interests of all countries with the aim of improving people’s livelihood worldwide and preserving world peace and stability.

Among those who also sent congratulatory messages or letters to Xi are Kim Jong-un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japanese Emperor Naruhito, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. 

Also sending messages were Timor-Leste’s President Jose Ramos-Horta, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Bangladeshi President Md. Abdul Hamid, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Fourth King of Bhutan Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Australian Governor-General David Hurley.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, in his greetings, said the PRC has made leapfrog achievements in development, from which the Solomon Islands has benefited a lot since it established diplomatic relations with China. Sogavare also wished China peace and prosperity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that on the occasion of the 73rd anniversary of the founding of the PRC, he extended his most sincere and friendly congratulations, and wished success to the upcoming 20th CPC National Congress.

On behalf of his government, US President Joe Biden congratulated the PRC on the 73rd anniversary of its founding, noting that he joins the US people in wishing all of the Chinese people peace and prosperity.

Britain’s King Charles III, Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Belgium’s King Philippe, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Irish President Michael Higgins, Maltese President George Vella, Croatian President Zoran Milanovic, President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis, Captains Regent of San Marino Oscar Mina and Paolo Rondelli, President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski, Slovenian President Borut Pahor, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also delivered greetings.

Czech President Milos Zeman wished the 20th CPC National Congress complete success, saying that in the current difficult period of the international situation, it is particularly important to maintain a sound partnership with China. Zeman said he looks forward to continuing to promote the strategic partnership between the two countries.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his cordial greetings and warm congratulations to Xi, the Chinese government and people, reaffirming that South Africa is ready to further consolidate and strengthen the friendship and strategic partnership between South Africa and China.

On behalf of the Algerian government and people, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune extended his warmest congratulations and best wishes to China, saying that he expects the two sides to achieve more fruitful results in cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa said that at the moment of a joyous celebration, he would like to express high appreciation for the enduring and profound friendship between the two countries and their people, adding that he wishes the PRC prosperity.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari wished the 20th CPC National Congress, a congress that carries historic significance, a complete success, and said he hopes that the congress would draw a blueprint for China’s development in the future.

Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said that China is an advocate of world peace and security, multilateralism and a just and fair world order.

The foreign leaders sending messages also included Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir Mayardit, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, Tunisian President Kais Saied, Liberian President George Weah, Malian President Assimi Goita, Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Cote d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara, and Angolan President Joao Lourenco, President of Botswana Mokgweetsi Masisi, Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Comorian President Azali Assoumani, and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.

Other foreign leaders greeting the PRC’s 73rd anniversary included First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Vanuatu’s Caretaker Prime Minister and leader of the Vanua’aku Pati Bob Loughman, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, Antigua and Barbuda’s Governor-General Rodney Williams, Acting President of the Commonwealth of Dominica Desmond Blanchard, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit, and Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn