Your Honourable Chair of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Željka Cvijanović,

Distinguished guests, Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen:

good evening! First of all, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all friends present this evening.

The bell of the Chinese New Year is about to ring. In 2024, the Spring Festival, carrying the civilization of the Chinese nation with a history of 5,000 years, has been officially inscribed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The values it carries : peace, harmony, happiness, and embracing new beginnings belong to the whole world. This year marks the Year of the Snake in the Chinese lunar calendar, symbolizing wisdom, vitality, and prosperity. Here, I would like to extend my sincere New Year greetings and best wishes to all of you.

It is my great honor to assume the post of Ambassador of the People’s republic of China to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the beginning of 2025.I will spare no effort to promote new developments in our bilateral relations.I vividly remember a well-known writer Ivo Andrić once said ,Bosnia and Herzegovina  is a wonderful country, fascinating, with nothing ordinary in the habitat or people. Since arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina nearly a month ago, I have been deeply impressed by many beautiful “encounters”.

Here, Eastern and Western civilizations meet. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, I have encountered friends from diverse cultural backgrounds, celebrated various festivals, enjoyed a variety of cuisines, appreciated colorful traditional attires. A local official once told me that only through the harmonious interplay of different civilizations can we create a world of shared beauty. This is also the goal of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Global Civilization Initiative. President Xi Jinping has remarked that sunlight has seven colors. The matching of different colors leads to greater beauty, and the combination of different musical instruments creates harmony and peace.

Here, history and reality meet. Bosnia and Herzegovina boasts a long history and rich cultural heritage. landmarks such as the Baščaršija Old Town, the Latin Bridge, the Drina River, and the Old Bridge of Mostar bear witness to the intertwining of history and modernity. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. In this era of globalization, the destinies of nations are interconnected. China’s diplomacy pursues the lofty goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind. We must learn from history, cherish peace, seize the present, and look toward the future to safeguard our shared planet.

This land also witnesses the “meeting” between the two friendly nations of China and Bosnia and Herzegovina and their peoples. Under the strategic guidance of our two countries’ leaders, bilateral relations have maintained healthy and stable development. Confucius, an ancient Chinese sage, once said, “At thirty, one establishes oneself”. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. China is willing to work with Bosnia and Herzegovina ,enhance political mutual trust, expand economic and trade cooperation under the frameworks of high-quality Belt and Road initiative cooperation and China-CEEC cooperation. Particularly, we want to strengthen personnel exchanges to make our friendship even more profound.

Dear friends, ladies and gentlemen!

Our reception today is also attended by many fellow Chinese compatriots. I thank you for your contributions to the development of bilateral relations between China and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chinese Embassy will be fully dedicated to providing high quality services and will be available to help and support you at all times.

Finally, let us raise our glasses to:

• Peace and prosperity in China and Bosnia and Herzegovina!

• Everlasting friendship between our two countries!

• Good health and happiness for all our guests!