President Simon Wu,
Vice President Glenn Dewhurst,
Committee and members of the Australia China Friendship Society WA Branch and your families,
I am so glad to be able to host you at my residence today. COVID 19 has greatly changed the way people interact with each other but finally we have managed to emerge from the pandemic and get back to our normal life. This public health crisis could never compromise our friendship, instead, we have proven to each other as true friends by mutually extending helping hands during the once in a century pandemic.
More encouragingly, with the joint efforts of the two sides, China Australia relations have stabilized, improved and developed ever since President Xi Jinping met with PM Albanese in Bali, Indonesia last November. Besides our top diplomats frequently meeting at international conferences, Vice Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Ma Youxiang visited Australia this April and Australian trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell visited China in May to step up talks upon bilateral cooperation, and some of our trade issues have witnessed significant progress such as coal and timber. Former Premier Mark McGowan made a visit to China this April and Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee Mr. Wang Xiaohui paid a visit to WA in May. Both of them are very keen to establish the direct flight between Sichuan’s capital city Chengdu and Perth. Now feasibility research is underway.
Dear friends, this year marks 50 years since Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam’s historic state visit to China.
More than a week ago, Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi met with Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the sidelines of the East Asia Foreign Ministers summit in Jakarta, and both are now working together to keep track Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to China later this year, which will be the first by an Australian leader since 2016 and which will undoubtedly be another milestone of China Australia relations.
As President Xi has commented, amity between the people holds the key to sound state-to-state relations. Only with intensive care can the tree of friendship grow luxuriant.
On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Perth and also in my name, I would like to thank Australia China Friendship Society WA Branch for your consistent great contributions to China WA and more widely China Australia relations. Special thanks to senior members for your selfless devotion and dedication to deepen understanding and cultivate warm feelings between our peoples. And I am so glad that so many of you could make it to today’s events. I am eager to have your kind ideas upon how to further enhance our ties and affinity.
I am also very happy to see that, President Wu has brought new life and momentum to the development of ACFSWA. President, under your strong leadership, WA branch has successfully hosted last year’s national conference, which celebrated the 50th Anniversary of establishment of China Australia diplomatic relations. President Wu and other members of ACFSWA have actively participated in the series of activities hosted by the Consulate General celebrating our 50 years of diplomatic ties and achieved very good results. WA branch has won the top prize of the short video contest Together for a Shared Future.
This year, WA branch successively organized the Chinese Film Week,the Friendship Award Ceremony and the Chinese Bridge Competition, well celebrating our friendship and promoting Chinese language learning. Recently, WA branch has made great efforts in making Chinese football fans at home. Yesterday, President Wu and Wendy, who takes care of the Chinese library hosted a luncheon welcoming Chinese football fans and former Chinese national women football team members, my colleagues have attended the event and came back feeling very much touched by the enthusiasm shared by all of the participants.
Dear friends,
2023 is the first year to implement the development plan adopted by the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and China is committed to opening its door even wider to the world. China has registered 5.5 per cent economic growth during the first half of this year, which is the fastest among major economies. China’s continued development will bring more opportunities for Australia and other countries.
Dear friends, I am fully confident that with our joint dedication, a new chapter will be opened in China Australia and China WA relations. And I cannot wait to hear your kind advice and ideas.
Thank you!