Special Coverage: 96th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in Qatar

Articles , English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Tuesday, July 25th, 2023

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In a momentous celebration of the 96th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort & Convention Center, the Chinese Embassy to the State of Qatar hosted a distinguished gathering of dignitaries and officials. The event witnessed a commemorative speech by Defence Attaché Col. He Botao that reflected upon the historic journey of the PLA and its paramount contributions to global peace and security. Full Speech Text Below:
Your Excellency Brigadier General Mohammed mahdi Al-ahbabi, Acting Commander of the Qatari Emiri Borders Corps
Your Excellency Ibrahim Fakhroo, Director of Protocols of MOFA
Your Excellency Amb. Ahmed of Eritrea, Dean of Diplomatic Corps in Qatar
Your Excellency Defense Attaché of Pakistan Commodore Iftikhar, Dean of Defense Attaché Association in Qatar
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear friends,
Good evening! Tonight, we gather here to celebrate the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. First of all, I would like to extend my warmest welcome to all the friends present today, and express my heartfelt thanks to you. On August 1st 1927, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army was founded at the critical moment of our nation and people. After 96 years of development, it has become not only the “Steel Great Wall” to safeguard our national security and people’s interests, but also a powerful force to maintain regional and world peace. Dear friends, the PLA is the strong pillar of UN peacekeeping career. China actively participates in UN peacekeeping operations. It is the second largest contributor to UN peacekeeping budget and the largest troop contributor among the permanent members of UN Security Council. We have dispatched more than 50,000 peacekeepers to participate in 25 UN peacekeeping missions. Despite the huge danger of wars and landmines, harsh and infested environment, they perform the mission very well by safeguarding security and stability, offering great helps to local development in more than 20 countries and regions. Up to now, 17 Chinese military personnel have sacrificed their lives in the UN peacekeeping missions. UN Under Secretary General Atul Khare praised: “China plays a unique and pivotal role in UN peacekeeping operations. Without China’s support, UN peacekeeping operations could not have achieved today’s achievements.” In the future, China will increase its support and participation in UN peacekeeping career. The PLA has built a peacekeeping standby force of 8,000 troops, ready to maintain world peace at any time! Dear friends, the PLA is the envoy of friendship and cooperation. Chinese army faithfully implement Global Security Initiatives proposed by President Xi Jinping. We try to push the building of a new type of security partnership through engaging in military exchanges with more than 150 countries, and establishing 54 defense consultation mechanisms. We vigorously provide international public security goods. Chinese Navy has dispatched 44 fleets to perform escort tasks. From the Gulf of Aden to the waters off the Somali coast, our navy has effectively provided protection and rescue for thousands international ships. We actively carry out international disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, through conducting earthquake relief in Pakistan and Lebanon, fighting against Ebola epidemic in West Africa, urgently providing a large number of relief supplies to Afghanistan and Tonga. Since 2010，the Chinese Navy hospital ship Ark Peace has sailed with love and benevolence around the world 11 times, over 260,000 nautical miles. Its personnel has provided medical services for over 250,000 people, performed more than 1400 operations in 45 countries and regions. They have helped so many people regain health and hope, and meanwhile sowed the seeds of love and friendship. It fully deserves the honorary title of “Boat of Life and Health”. Dear friends, the ancient Chinese said, ‘True friends are like close neighbors even they are thousand miles apart.’ Although China and Qatar are far apart, the friendship and exchanges between our two peoples have a long history. Particularly in recent years, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and Emir Tamim, the political mutual trust between two sides has continued to deepen, and the cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful successes. As an important part of bilateral relations, the military cooperation has also made great progress, showing the momentum of fruitful result, rapid development and good prospect. Especially in 2019, both sides established Defense Attaché Offices in each others’ Embassy, which offered a new platform and stage for military cooperation. This is an important and great deed in the history of bilateral ties. I am very honored to be the first Chinese Defense Attaché in Qatar, and have worked and lived here over four years. During these days, I have been working with my Qatari brothers shoulder to shoulder to try to overcome the impact of COVID-19, actively implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, vigorously promote bilateral military cooperation and exchanges. And I also made a lot of good friends. It is one of the most important, beautiful and unforgettable experiences in my life. I will always cherish the wonderful memories of my time in Qatar. Dear friends, I’m ending my tenure in Qatar and will leave for new post. On this parting moment, I would like to extend my most sincere thanks to friends of Qatar, most sincere thanks to colleagues of diplomatic corps, especially my fellows of DAAQ, most sincere thanks to colleagues of our Embassy and the overseas Chinese friends in Qatar. Finally, once again, I congratulate the anniversary of the founding of the PLA! Wish the friendship between China and Qatar last forever! Wish all friends present today health and happiness! Thank you so much!