On the morning of September 30, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) held a national-flag-raising ceremony in the office area of its headquarters to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Attendees included Pan Gongsheng, Secretary of the CPC Leadership and Administrator of the SAFE, Beijing-based members of the CPC Leadership and chief accountant.

The ceremony started at 9:00 am. To the inspiring and exciting March of the Volunteers, the Five-starred Red Flag rose slowly but steadily, fluttering in the morning breeze. All the attendees gave a solemn eye salute to the national flag, while singing the national anthem with excitement. In this manner, they showed their deep respect and affection for their motherland, wishing the Chinese nation prosper and thrive.

Over the past seven decades, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese nation has achieved great leaps from gaining independence to realizing economic well-being and to becoming a great power after trials and tribulations, witnessing tremendous changes of historic significance in their motherland. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, thinking in big picture terms with a holistic view, has united and led the whole Party, military and Chinese people of all ethnic groups to solve long-standing and deep-seated problems and achieve a resounding success they have long aspired, boosting the accomplishment of historic progress in the causes of the Party and the state, and embracing a new era for socialism with Chinese characteristics.

According to Administrator Pan Gongsheng, as the Chinese people are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, holding this simple but solemn ceremony to salute the national flag and wish the motherland all the best is a profound opportunity to educate officials and staff about patriotism and the Communist Party of China. Over the past 70 years, foreign exchange authorities have worked around the Party and the state, effectively allocating and harnessing foreign exchange resources, thus making great contributions to economic growth and national development at different periods of time. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, foreign exchange authorities have proactively served the new open economic system, and mitigated the heavy risks arising from cross-border capital flows, effectively ensuring China's economic and financial security in the complex and challenging environment. Under these circumstances, foreign exchange administration systems and regimes that are a good fit for comprehensive opening up and modernization of national governance systems and capabilities have been refined.

As Pan Gongsheng stressed, foreign exchange authorities should unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, they should strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses", adhere to the "Four Confidences", and ensure the "Two Maintenances". Following the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, they should expand high-level opening-up, guard against risks arising from cross-border capital flows, and safeguard economic and financial security, so as to make greater contributions to the building of a moderately prosperous society in all aspects and the achievement of great victory of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.

Leaders of all departments of the SAFE and all officials and staff of the SAFE headquarters also attended the ceremony. (The end)