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“You Are Not Alone” ——Remarks by Amb. HUA Ning at the Handover Ceremony of Donation from the Chinese embassy to the Stone Orphanage
2022-04-18 15:41

Dear Mr. Peter Ayual Deng, General Overseer of the Orphanage,

Dear orphanage staff,

Dear friends from the media ,

Dear children,

Good morning!

Today, I came to the Stone Orphanage, not only to participate in the handover ceremony, but more importantly to meet you lovely children, learn about your study and life, and feel your optimism, solidarity and fraternity. I’m deeply touched by the innocent smiling faces and enthusiastic singing and dancing of the children. By that, I would like to thank General Overseer Mr. Peter Ayual Deng and all the orphanage staff for your dedication and love, which has made the children feel the warmth of home.

Not long ago, my colleagues visited this Orphanage, and briefed me on its situation and many difficulties when they came back. Me and my colleagues in the embassy were deeply touched and thus decided to help the orphanage as our capacity allows. I am very delighted to see that, with everyone's efforts, a new deep well called China-South Sudan Friendship Well has been built, and children are now able to enjoy clean drinking water. This is a well of friendship and also a well of hope. Today, we also donated a batch of food, hoping to meet the urgent needs of the Orphanage. Also with us today is the Chinese medical team in South Sudan, who brings medicines and provides free clinics for the children. Dear children, you are not alone, we are here with you.

At the inception of the modern times since 1840, Chinese people had seen their homeland torn apart and lived with sufferings and despair. Since its establishment in 1921, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has been committed to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and has led the Chinese people in a century of arduous struggle to achieve national liberation and people's happiness. Now, China has successfully achieved its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and embarked on a new journey toward the second centenary goal of fully building a modern socialist country. Although China and South Sudan are geographically thousands of miles apart, similar historical experiences and common historical missions have closely bined us together. Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized that “the aspirations of the people to live a better life must always be the focus of our efforts”. It is not only the dream of the Chinese people, but also the dream of the people of South Sudan and Africa that our next generation could grow up, work and live better than before. Going forward, we should roll up our sleeves to work together to build a China-Africa community with a shared future.

During the past 3 years as Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, I have seen with my own eys the changes in this youngest country of the world. Today's South Sudan is gradually getting rid of its history of wars and conflicts, and striving to achieve the goal of peace and development. Since the signing of the Revitalized Peace Agreement, important progress has been achieved in the peace process, and the nationwide ceasefire has been generally maintained, although South Sudan are confronted with many challenges. Not long ago, the parties concerned in South Sudan reached an agreement on unifying the long-deadlocked command structure of the security sectors accross the country, which is another significant milestone in the peace process, echoing the expectations of the people. I trust that a unified, professional and well-disciplined forces will effectively guarantee the security of the country and its people.

Over the years, China has been actively supporting the peace process and economic and social development of South Sudan by building hospitals, schools, bridges, and airports, providing humanitarian assistance, producing textbooks for children, supporting youth and women's capacity building, and offering in-kind support to the building of a necessary unified forces.

As a Chinese saying goes, “a boat sailing against the currents will either forge ahead or drifts downstream.” We sincerely hope that with the efforts of the South Sudanese government and people, and with the help of China and the international community, the peace process will continue to make new progress, achieve true reconciliation from deep inside, heal the wounds of war, and realize the dream of justice, freedom, and prosperity in South Sudan.

Dear children, one day, you will also be grown-ups and shoulder the responsibility for your country and people to heal this country and heal this world. Just as “the sword owes its sharpened edge to the rough stone, and the scent of plum blossoms is refined after the rigors of winter, ”, you have definitely endured hardships beyond your age but also gained greater courage and confidence in the process of fighting against such fate. A line of an ancient Chinese classics reads, “a rock can be smashed, but its pieces will still be hard; cinnabar can be ground, but its powder will still be red.” It's my wish that you could grow up healthily and happily here, gain knowledge and set great aspirations, and learn to be integrated and tolerant people. And please keep reminded the help and love you’ve got from your teachers, friends and people from all walks of life. In the future, you should work hard to benefit the society towards peace and development in South Sudan, and keep this beautiful country free from war forever.

In closing, I wish every South Sudanese child a bright future. Thank you very much.


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