The Honorable Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Kurup, Minister of Prime Minister’s Department,

The Honorable Tan Sri Abuzahar，the President of the Senate

Excellencies,

Friends,

Tan Sri, Tan Sri Dato Dato, Datin Datin, Duan Duan, Guan Guan,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Selamat Pedang! Good evening！

A warm welcome to all of you to the Chinese New Year reception. I am happy to see in Malaysia every festival is enjoyed by all no mater it is a Malay, Chinese or Indian holiday. And I enjoy the Chinese new year here even more than I did in China.

2014 has gone by as a running horse and is marked as an extraordinary milestone in our bilateral relations. We have celebrated the 40th anniversary on the establishment of diplomatic ties and further strengthen our relationship. We have faced challenges and disasters and yet hold our hands together as tight as ever.

A Chinese proverb says, mountains and seas cannot separate those with common aspirations. Just as Prime Minister Datuk Sri Najib has put during his visit to China, our bilateral relations are the ties that bind. Now we believe that the Silk Road Economic Zone and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road would grow soaring wings for China and Malaysia. We are not only friendly neighbors sharing breath and destiny, we are also Strategic partners seeking peace and prosperity.

China will push forward comprehensive reform and rule of law and spare no effort in bringing the Great Chinese dream into reality, while Malaysia is empowering its economy with GTP and ETP and steadfastly pursuing 2020 version. Let us combine our goals as well as development plans and usher in the new era of “Diamond 40 years”.

In Chinese Culture, Goat stands for moderation and prosperity. We wish China and Malaysia stability, harmony, prosperity and better livelihood for our peoples!

Happy Chinese New Year! Selamat Tahun Baru Cina!

Thank you!