Respected Chairman of the Chamber of the Deputies Mr. Hamacek,

Respected Vice Chairman of the Chamber of the Deputies Mr. Filip,

Respected Ministers, Exellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen, Dear friends,

Good evening!

Today is the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is the most important traditional festival in China. It is a time for family reunion, as well as for friends' gathering. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy, I warmly welcome you all to join us in celebrating the New Year.

Over the past year China's reform and development has braved the storms and maintained 6.9% GDP growth, which is a hard-won achievement against the downturn presure both at home and abroad. China's economy has entered a phase of what we call the "new Normal", with moderate growth but improved economic structure and emerging new growth drivers.

Year 2016 marks the beginning of China's 13th Five Year Plan. Responding to the latest challenges China faces, the 13th Five year Plan comes up with five key development concepts, namely:

Innovation; Balanced growth; Green economy; Opening-up and Inclusive development.

China will strengthen structural reforms and upgrade opening-up, so as to remove hindrances to the development, motivate the creativity of the hundres of millions of people and foster an innovation and consumption driven development..

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 2015, we witnessed a boom in the China-Czech relations. High level visits as well as people to people exchanges were intensified. Cooperation was expanded to all sectors and yielded tangible results. With the first ever historical visit by the Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Czech Republic, 2016 will be recorded as a year of milestone in our bilateral relations. We should deepen all-round cooperation to score new and greater achievements. Especially we should make more efforts in the fields of trade, investment, infrustructure, finance, technology, education and cultural engagement to deliver dividents to the people of both countries.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2016 is the year of Monkey, which is a favorit to many Chinese. Just as one of the greatest Czech-JaraCimrman, the friction figure Monkey King is adored by the Chinese people. We see in the monkey the spirits of swiftness, smartness, bravery and vitality.

With these virtuous spirits, I wish 2016 will be a happy, lucky and fruitful year to all of you! Cheers!