The visit of the DAP delegation is most significant as it coincides with the 40th anniversary of China’s Reform and Opening Up to the world.
Let me congratulate China on the 40th anniversary of China’s Reform, as during this period, China led the world in lifting more than 700 million people out of poverty.
Over the past 40 years, China has recorded an average annual GDP growth rate of around 9.5 percent, fostered a middle-income population of 400 million and lifted more than 700 million Chinese people out of poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of the global total.
This is a most impressive world record.
China is no more the “Sick Man of Asia” but is respected by the world as a first-class nation in many fields of human endeavour.
Malaysia has also launched its Reform programme, which we called the building of a New Malaysia, since the great and historic decision seven months ago when the country changed the Federal Government in six decades during the 14th General Election to shift the country away from the trajectory of a sham democracy, kakistocracy, a failed state and global kleptocracy to a world top-class nation and a tiger economy which is united, harmonious, democratic, just, progressive and prosperous which upholds the rule of law and good governance.
I hope that the re-set of Malaysian nation-building directions and policies can still be on course in next few decades, and that the Malaysian nation can celebrate the 40th anniversary of its reform programme to build a New Malaysia, which will be in 2058!
(Speech by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang at the reception given by the Shandong Provincial People’s Government to the DAP delegation to Shandong, China held at the Shandung Hotel, Ji Nam on Tuesday, 18th December 2018 at 7 pm)