Government | Tuesday 29 September, 2015 4:19 am |

Chinese Ambassador Li Chengwen has said that about 14,000 Chinese Muslims came to Saudi Arabia to perform Haj this year, and more than 20 million Chinese Muslims celebrated Eid Al-Adha with their Muslim brothers and sisters all over the world.
Chengwen made his observation prior to his country’s 66th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China that falls on Oct. 1.
“On behalf of the staff of the Chinese Embassy in the Kingdom and in my own name, I would like to extend holiday greetings and sincere wishes to the Chinese citizens working in Saudi Arabia,” the envoys said.
He added: “I would also like to thank wholeheartedly the leadership of the Kingdom and its friendly people for their care and contribution to Sino-Saudi relations.”
“As a Muslim myself, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to all Muslims who completed Haj this year, and express my thanks to King Salman, to the government and the people of Saudi Arabia for the safeguarding and convenience they provide for all the Muslims who performed Haj this year,” he observed
He continued: “I would also like to extend Eid Al-Adha greetings and best wishes to the leaders and the people of Saudi Arabia and Muslims in the whole world!”
He said: “During the 66 eventful years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, great achievements have been made time and again. Especially since the beginning of reform and opening-up policy in 1978, the Chinese economy has been growing rapidly. In 2014, China’s GDP reached 10.3 trillion dollars, becoming the second country with a GDP over $10 trillion in world history. In 2014, China remains the world’s largest goods trading nation with total value of imports and exports exceeding $4 trillion.”
In the first half of this year, despite the global economic slow-down, China still maintained a high-speed growth of 7 percent. From January to August; foreign investment to China grew 9.2 percent; and China’s contribution to world economic growth was more than 30 percent. China is still one of the most dynamic and attractive economies in the world.
He continued: “This year also marks the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and the Kingdom. In the past 25 years … the two nations have become strategic partners and have achieved fruitful results of cooperation in various fields.”
“Mutual respect is a major premise of Sino-Saudi relations. In spite of different national conditions, China and the Kingdom adhere to the principle of mutual respect and equality. We respect for each other’s cultural traditions, social systems and core interests and concerns,” he noted. 
He said: “Representing Chinese civilization and the Islamic civilization separately, we both advocate respect, harmony and dialogue among civilizations. The friendly relationship between China and the Kingdom becomes a model of accommodation between different civilizations. Mutual respect and tolerance between China and the Kingdom guarantees the right direction of Sino-Saudi relations.”