On December 3, 2022, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, H.E. Cong Peiwu delivered a speech in the Ceremony of the Chinese Government Friendship Award 2021 in the Chinese Embassy in Canada. The content of the speech is as follows.

Dr. Errett,

Representatives of the Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada,

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the beautiful season of winter in Ottawa, we are glad to hold the Ceremony of the Chinese Government Friendship Award 2021 here at the Chinese Embassy. I would like to offer my warm congratulations to Dr. Lee Edward Errett, President of Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada (BMDAC), on winning the Friendship Award for 2021, and convey my gratitude to the Association for your great efforts to bring Chinese and Canadian people closer and promote the development of China-Canada relations.

The Chinese Government Friendship Award is the highest award to commend foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to China’s modernization drive. Dr. Errett is a renowned cardiologist in Canada with excellent medical skills and a caring heart. He has so far made over 20 trips to China and led members of the BMDAC to provide free medical services, perform surgical operations, and give hundreds of academic lectures in China. After the COVID-19 broke out, Dr. Errett, along with the BMDAC members, voluntarily raised and sent to China 40 thousand N95 masks and many ECMO machines. With concrete actions, he has demonstrated the spirit of “new-age Bethune”, and made outstanding contributions to furthering the China-Canada friendship and bringing the two peoples closer. Dr. Errett well deserves this honor.

Dear friends!

More than eight decades ago, Dr. Bethune traveled thousands of miles to China, where he supported the Chinese people with his remarkable medical skills in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and made the ultimate sacrifice. Former Chinese leader Mao Zedong specially wrote an essay for him, In Memory of Norman Bethune, which is familiar to almost all Chinese people, extolling Dr. Bethune’s spirit of internationalism and humanitarianism. More than eight decades later, his spirit has not faded away with the passage of time but has grown even stronger. It has been carried on in both China and Canada, continuously encouraging and motivating medical workers in the two countries. The BMDAC is an excellent embodiment of this spirit. It has helped Chinese medical workers participate in training programs in Canada, and sent Canadian medical experts to carry out free medical services and academic exchanges in China many times, thus serving as a bridge of medical communication and cooperation between China and Canada, and deepening the friendship between the two peoples.

For China, “Bethune” has already surpassed the value as an individual and become a symbol of internationalism, humanitarianism and selfless dedication. And more importantly, he is the symbol of the friendship between China and Canada, which has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. We commemorate Bethune not only for his touching deeds, but also to encourage more people to carry forward his spirit. At present, the COVID-19 pandemic still drags on with cases surging here and there, the global recovery is clogged, and the North-South gap keeps widening. It is therefore more imperative than ever for all countries to unite closely and work together to tackle global issues. Bethune’s spirit of internationalism and humanitarianism featuring selflessness and dedication is of far-reaching importance to the harmonious development of the world today, and is worth carrying forward and advocating.

Dear friends,

China’s development would be impossible without the continuous efforts of Chinese people of all ethnic groups and the wisdom and diligence of the vast number of international friends and foreign experts. The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) successfully held not long ago. In his report to the 20th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping called upon all countries to allow cultural exchanges to transcend estrangement, mutual learning to transcend clashes, and coexistence to transcend feelings of superiority, and join forces to meet all types of global challenges. 

Guests present today, as well as people from all walks of life in Canada, are welcome to visit China when the pandemic is contained. And the Chinese side will provide more convenience for your visit, work and life in China. The Chinese Embassy and General Consulates in Canada are willing to provide full support. We hope that you will continue to carry forward Bethune’s spirit, give full play to your professional advantages, promote the exchanges between China and Canada, and better tell the stories about China and China-Canada cooperation, so as to make new contributions to promoting mutual understanding and forging closer bonds between the two peoples and ensuring the steady and sustained development of China-Canada ties.

Dear friends!

In just over a month, we will embrace the Chinese Year of the Rabbit. In Chinese culture, the rabbit stands for creativity, dynamism and great ambition. I would like to quote an English proverb: Hop over obstacles like a rabbit. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Canada, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere New Year greetings to all of you. I wish you a happy, peaceful and successful New Year. I also hope China-Canada relations can hop obstacles and go back on the right track at an early date. 

Thank you!