Xi says Chinese people will never forget international friends

The Chinese people will never forget international friends who have made prominent contributions to China's development and the friendship between Chinese and foreign peoples, President Xi Jinping said in Beijing on Sunday.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a ceremony awarding the country's highest state honors ahead of the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

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Xi says Chinese people will never forget international friends

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Xi says Chinese people will never forget international friends

"There are many old and good friends who have shared the same aspirations and stood with the Chinese people through thick and thin over the past 75 years. Ms. Dilma Rousseff, who has been awarded the Friendship Medal today, is an outstanding representative of them. The Chinese people will never forget those international friends who have made prominent contributions to China's development and to enhancing friendship between the Chinese people and people all over the world! The Chinese people are willing to work together with people of all countries to maintain world peace, promote common development, and push for the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, so as to create an even brighter future for all!" said Xi.

"A new picture requires us to paint together, and a new history needs us to create in common efforts. Let us set our sights on our goals, work together with determination and a pioneering spirit to jointly compose a more splendid and vibrant new chapter for the People's Republic!" said Xi.

The central parity rate of the Chinese currency renminbi, or the yuan, strengthened 20 pips to 7.0108 against the U.S. dollar Monday, according to the China Foreign Exchange Trade System.

In China's spot foreign exchange market, the yuan is allowed to rise or fall by 2 percent from the central parity rate each trading day.

The central parity rate of the yuan against the U.S. dollar is based on a weighted average of prices offered by market makers before the opening of the interbank market each business day.