76th Anniversary of Founding of People's Republic of China Celebrated in Luxembourg

The Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg, Hua Ning, hosted a reception at the Bank of China headquarters in Luxembourg-Ville on Tuesday 16 September 2025 to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC).

Guests included Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies Vice-President Mars Di Bartolomeo and Council of State President Marc Thewes, alongside ambassadors, mayors, MEPs, MPs, business leaders and members of the local Chinese community.

The evening opened with the national anthems of Luxembourg and China, followed by a welcome speech from Ambassador Hua Ning. He described 2025 as a “very special” year not only for China but for people around the world, as it also “marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Second World War”. He reflected on this shared history, as well as China’s post-war development and international role, highlighting its economic transformation: “After the founding of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949, the Chinese government and people built a new China from the ruins of war, achieving the twin miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability. Over the past 76 years, China has grown from a poor and weak agricultural country into the world's second-largest economy.” He stressed that the people of China “have experienced countless wars, chaos, poverty and turmoil”, adding that they “cherish peace and stability”. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations, he said “we must even more firmly uphold our partnership, mutual respect and mutual benefits, jointly uphold multilateralism and jointly respond to global challenges".

Ambassador Hua Ning also highlighted China and Luxembourg’s long-standing “sound and stable friendly relationship”. He noted recent progress in aviation and logistics links, Chinese companies’ investment in renewable energy, biopharmaceuticals and electrical buses, among other areas. He stated that in 2024, “Luxembourg continued to be the top destination for Chinese direct investment in the EU”, adding that “people-to-people exchanges [...] have also been very active”.

On direct China-Luxembourg flights, the Chinese ambassador revealed that China Southern Airlines is set to “soon” open a representative office in Luxembourg, with an airline representative present at Tuesday evening’s event. “This demonstrates the airline's commitment to the construction of the China Luxembourg Air Silk Road,” he said, also noting that China Postal Airlines operates cargo flights to Luxembourg. The ambassador also spoke of China's “visa-free policy for most EU countries, including Luxembourg,” adding: “We hope that EU countries will also provide greater visa convenience for Chinese citizens to promote personal exchanges between China and Europe, which will surely contribute to the sustainable operation of these direct flights”.

The reception featured a cultural performance by artists from Yunnan Province and concluded with a networking buffet reception.

According to STATEC, 4,755 Chinese nationals were residing in Luxembourg as of 1 January 2025 (up from 4,545 the previous year). Luxembourg and China established diplomatic relations in 1972. Several Chinese banks have their European headquarters in Luxembourg, including Bank of China, which has been present in the Grand Duchy since 1979. That same year, Grand Duke Jean (father of Grand Duke Henri) undertook a historic official state visit to China.