Ladies and Gentlemen,

I feel very delighted to attend today’s news conference and deliver my speech on behalf of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. I’d like to take this opportunity to brief you on Guangxi.

Guangxi is one of the five ethnic minority regions in China. The total land area is 236,700 sq km, accounting for 2.5% of the total in China. Guangxi has access to the South China Sea, China-Vietnam border and rivers. The coastline is 1,595km and border line is 1,020km. As the only region in China that links China with ASEAN both by land and by sea, Guangxi serves as a vital passage for Southwest China to have access to the Sea and the window and gateway in the cooperation between China and ASEAN. Guangxi has jurisdiction over 14 administrative cities and 109 counties, among which 12 are ethnic autonomous counties and 58 are ethnic townships. 12 ethnic groups are living in Guangxi, including Zhuang, Han, Yao, Miao, and Dong. Guangxi boasts no.1 in terms of the ethnic minority population and Zhuang ethnic minority has the largest population among all the ethnic minorities in China. The total population in Guangxi by the end of 2008 reached 50.49million, among which, 19.59million are ethnic minorities, or 38.8% of the total. Zhuang ethnic minority is 16.65million, representing 32.98% of the total.

Since 1949 when People’s Republic of China was founded, under the correct leadership of the Central Committee of CPC and the State Council, ethnic groups in Guangxi have unswervingly held high the banner of patriotism and socialism, adhered to national unity, social stability and ethnic solidarity, implemented the ethnic policies made by the Party, carried out and improved regional national autonomy system, fully respected and safeguarded rights of ethnic minorities. Many measures have been adopted to realize economic development, social progress and culture prosperity. Historic changes have taken place in Guangxi, which has realized historic development from backwardness to progress, from closed situation to opening up, from poverty to prosperity.

---Economy has maintained sustained and rapid development and overall strength has remarkably enhanced. GDP in 2008 in Guangxi registered at RMB717.2billion, ranking 17th in China, an increase of nearly 120 times than that in 1950. Per capita GDP was RMB14,966, an increase of 43 times than that in 1950.

---Advantageous special industry system has taken shape by fully utilizing the merits. Advantageous special industries such as sugar making, non-ferrous metal, automobile, machinery, petrochemical, steel, manganese and power have been continuously developed and Guangxi has served as the important industry base in China.

---infrastructures such as transportation and energy have been increasingly improved and the role of Guangxi as the access to the Sea for Southwest China and the international passage has been more conspicuous. The total mileage of roads in 2008 in Guangxi reached 99,300km, 5 times longer than that in 1950, among which expressways are 2,181km long. The throughput of coastal and inland river ports was 131million tons and the total installed capacity was 24.25million kilowatt.

---A bigger role has been played in the general pattern of China’s opening up as Guangxi has accelerated its reform and opening up. The annual holding of China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning and the upgrading of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone into the national strategy have made Guangxi the crucial platform in the exchanges and cooperation between China and ASEAN. It is making strides towards the development of itself as the new highland in the international economic cooperation and the new growth pole in the economic development of coastal China.

---Social undertakings have undergone comprehensive development and livelihoods of people from different ethnic groups have been improved. The popularization of 9-year compulsory education and the realization of education of various kinds at various levels and undertakings in culture, public health and science and technology have greatly enhanced the competitiveness of people from different ethnic groups. The poverty alleviation program and infrastructure development in border areas, revolutionary areas and rock mountain areas have greatly improved the conditions of people from different ethnic groups in their living and production. Currently, people from different ethnic groups in Guangxi have experienced historic leapfrogging development from poverty to adequate food and clothing and to moderate prosperity. The population of people under poverty line has declined from 21million in 1978 to 2.34million in 2008. Per capita disposable income for urban residents was RMB14,146 in 2008, standing at 12th in China. Per capita net income for rural residents was RMB3,690,, a marked jump than previous years.

---people from different ethnic groups have been the masters of their own fates and ethnic solidarity is consolidating and developing. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has conscientiously implemented the ethnic policies made by the Party, adhered to and improved regional national autonomy system and safeguarded the rights of ethnic minorities since its foundation. Numerous ethnic cadres have been cultivated. Currently, 36% of the cadres inGuangxi are from ethnic minorities, fully embodying the rights of people from different ethnic groups to be the masters of their own fates.

In the past 60 years, no matter what changes have occurred in the world and no matter what difficulties we have faced in our way forward, people of different ethnic groups in Guangxi have worked together to firmly safeguard ethnic solidarity, national unity and social stability and to solidify and develop the socialist ethnic relations featured by equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and harmony, thus, people from different ethnic groups have lived together harmoniously and joined their hands together to achieve harmonious development. Today’s Guangxi is at the best period of development in history as it is enjoying economic development, social progress, culture prosperity, border peace and its people are living and working happily. We should attribute such good results to the adherence to the leadership of the Party and socialism with Chinese characteristics, the fully implementation of ethnic policies made by the Party, the joint efforts by people from different ethnic groups, the support and assistance of the central government and the great support by people from different ethnic groups in China.

At this new historical period, we must further study and fully implement the essence of the speech made by President Hu Jintao at the caders’ conference in Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, pay equal attention to reform, development and solidarity, stability. Stick to the central position of economic development and safeguard social stability. Persist in ethnic solidarity and common prosperity. Seize the rare opportunities brought by the intensified West China development and the upgrading of Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone to the national strategy and the establishment of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area in 2010 to embark on the path of scientific development, fully utilize advantages to conduct reform and make innovations, prioritize the development of industries, transportation and Guangxi Beibu Gulf Economic Zone. Emphasize the fundamental role of agriculture, develop Xijiang River watercourse, strengthen comprehensive cooperation with ASEAN, and maintain the stable and rapid development in Guangxi. Develop Guangxi into the base of logistics, trade, processing and manufacturing and the center of information exchanges in China-ASEAN cooperation, a new highland in the international economic cooperation and a new growth pole in the economic development of coastal China. Ensure the development of Guangxi in a scientific, harmonious and leapfrogging way. Make due contributions to the prosperity, ethnic solidarity, social stability and border peace in China.

Thanks!