On September 29, Hainan Province held a reception in Haikou to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Shen Xiaoming, Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Hainan Provincial People's Congress, Feng Fei, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Governor of Hainan Province, Mao Wanchun, Chairman of the CPPCC Hainan Provincial Committee and some other incumbent provincial leaders, people from all sectors of society and friends from home and abroad were present to celebrate the birthday of the PRC, and offer blessings for the prosperity of the country and a bright prospect of the province.

Shen Xiaoming, Secretary of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Hainan Provincial People's Congress delivers a speech at Hainan's National Day Reception in Celebration of the 72nd Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China. [Photo by Feng Shuo/Hainan Daily]

At 17:30, the reception began amid the National Anthem of the PRC. Shen delivered a speech at the reception. On behalf of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and the Hainan Provincial People's Government, he firstly extended heartfelt thanks and warm greetings to Hainan's dedicated and hard-working people from all walks of life, and to all friends from home and abroad who have shown interest in and support for the development of Hainan.

He said that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the PRC, and the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of Hainan Special Economic Zone. With China's rapid development, Hainan has transformed from a closed and backward island into an important window of the country's reform and opening-up. In particular, following the important speeches and instructions from General Secretary Xi Jinping since April 13, 2018, the whole province is inspired to move swiftly to deepen reform and opening-up on all fronts. The construction of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics is off to a good start and in full stream. Today, Hainan is brimming with the vigor and vitality of entrepreneurship, reform and innovation. A more promising, open and inclusive Hainan is emerging in front of us with all its opportunities.

Shen emphasized that at the new historical starting point, Hainan will unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, make joint efforts to promote reform and innovation, stay committed to openness, high-quality industrial development, sound business environment, ecological protection and improvement of people's livelihood, take the construction of a free trade port with Chinese characteristics to a new height, and make new contributions to the realization of the Chinese dream of great national rejuvenation.

Koo Man-seop, Vice Governor and Acting Governor of Jeju Special Self-governing Province of the Republic of Korea, Szabó István, Governor of Pest County of Hungary, Božidar Longin, Prefect of Zadar County of Croatia, and outstanding Hainanese living overseas or in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan sent their congratulations and wishes through video.

The reception was attended by heads of Hainan provincial departments; representatives of democratic parties, Federation of Industry and Commerce, non-party personages and mass organizations; representatives of provincial universities and colleges, research institutes and other units; representatives of key parks; Consul-General of the Kingdom of Cambodia in Haikou; heads of foreign, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan enterprises with investment in Hainan along with local enterprises; representatives of overseas Hainanese communities and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan; representatives of outstanding foreign talents introduced into Hainan; together with international friends and experts in Hainan Province.

Director-General Dai Zhen, Deputy Director-Generals Zeng Xiaoming, Liu Hongmei and Wang Lei of the Foreign Affairs Office of Hainan Province were also present.