Welcome to the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney as we celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Thank you to all our friends for your continued support for China’s development and China-Australia friendship.
Over the past 77 years, China has found the path to modernisation through painstaking efforts, hardship and sacrifice. Nowadays, “Looking East” and “Moving Towards China” have become a trend of our times. This year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Faced with a changing and turbulent international environment, and with many factors of instability and uncertainty, China has shown through its actions that it remains an anchor of stability for the world.
China’s head-of-state diplomacy has reached one high point after another. Leaders of the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council, France, the UK, the US and Russia, have all visited China. The Chinese and U.S. presidents have exchanged visits within six months, further enriching the connotation of the constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. Through overseas visits and meetings with visiting leaders, President Xi Jinping has engaged with countries in every region of the world. The vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, together with the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative and the Global Governance Initiative, is resonating more widely around the world. Recently, President Xi shared four observations on global AI governance, put forward a series of initiatives and proposals on peace and security in the Middle East, and attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS summits in succession. These efforts have been widely welcomed and supported by countries in the region and the international community.
China’s economy continues to develop new growth drivers and improve its economic structure. China’s gross domestic product grew 4.7 percent year on year in the first half. New growth drivers, represented by high-end manufacturing, digital economy and modern services, contributed over 40 percent to economic expansion. China’s “new tech trio” of artificial intelligence, robotics and innovative pharmaceuticals is seeing strong export growth. China has also remained the world’s second-largest import market for 17 consecutive years. This creates opportunities for countries around the world to develop together.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
The China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has now entered its second decade. In recent years, under the joint guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Australia relations have been put on the right track of improvement and development. President Xi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have met four times, and our foreign ministers have met on multiple occasions. Last week, the Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives visited China, the first such visit in nine years. Our two countries’ interests are more closely linked, people-to-people exchanges are growing, we have more issues to address together, and cooperation across a wide range of fields is becoming more practical. China has been Australia’s largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years. In 2025, two-way trade in goods and services reached 326 billion Australian dollars, accounting for a quarter of Australia’s total trade. Nearly 200,000 Chinese students are currently studying in Australia, making up around one-fourth of all international students here.
We can see this cooperation across New South Wales. Last December, Governor Beazley of New South Wales led a delegation to Guangdong for the 30th Guangdong–New South Wales Joint Economic Meeting. During the visit, her excellency also planted a friendship tree with leaders of Guangdong Province. This July, the China National Opera House performed at the Sydney Opera House for the first time, and Professor Martin Green of the University of New South Wales received China’s International Science and Technology Cooperation Award. On 1 September, Antong Jiang, a Chinese student at the University of Wollongong who lost his life for saving other’s, was awarded posthumously a Commendation for Brave Conduct presented by the Governor-General. Sydney and Guangzhou have also celebrated the 40th anniversary of their sister city relationship 10 days ago. Exchanges and cooperation between China and New South Wales are steadily deepening, and the friendship between our peoples is growing stronger.
How Time flies! I have been working in Australia for nearly two years. This year, I have joined you at many meaningful events. I have also visited cities, shires and towns on the east and north coasts of New South Wales and in the inland areas of the state’s central and western regions. My visits have taken me to schools, businesses, think tanks, media organisations, livestock farms, factories, wineries, zoos and aged-care homes. Above all, I have made friends from all walks of life. Some of the friends here have driven hundreds of kilometres to join us tonight. Thank you for coming all this way.
This year is the APEC “China Year”. In November, China will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Shenzhen, bringing leaders together to discuss openness, innovation and cooperation. Prime Minister Albanese will also travel to China for the meeting. Next year, we will celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Australia with a wide range of events. To keep China-Australia relations moving forward, we need to work together and meet each other halfway.
A few weeks later, Sydney’s jacarandas will begin to bloom, ushering in the most romantic time of year in this beautiful city. Let us deepen understanding through our exchanges and work together for a better future, so that China-Australia friendship continues to blossom.
Finally, I wish China and Australia continued prosperity and our peoples happiness and well-being. I wish all of you and your families good health, joy, peace and harmony.
Thank you!