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To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Australia-China diplomatic relations, the Australian Business Forum held the 'Australia-China Business Week 2012 Luncheon" in Melbourne on May 31. Premier of Victoria Ted Baillieu and Chinese Consul General to Melbourne Shi Weiqiang delivered keynote speeches. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Ken Smith, Victorian Commissioner to Greater China Patrick Stringer and Chinese Commercial Consul Liu Yu attended at invitation. About 240 political and business figures were present at the event.
Consul General Shi pointed out that thanks to the joint efforts by both sides, China-Australia relations have seen steady and healthy development over the past 40 years, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples and serving the fundamental interests of the two countries. To ensure a thriving development of such relationship into the future, China and Australia need to strengthen mutual trusts, expand areas of cooperation and enhance people-to-people exchanges. With abundant experiences gained in the past 40 years, both parties have enough wisdom to make the right choice of the history and join hands to work for a more promising future, he believed.
Tracing the long friendship between Chinese and Victorian, Premier Ted Baillieu spoke highly of the Chinese community's contribution to the economic and social development of Victoria. He outlined China's massive economic growth and the opportunities it presents to Victorian and Australian businesses. "Victoria is moving to a new level of engagement with China," said Baillieu. At the event, Baillieu announced a new Victoria- China Tourism Strategy, including language services and strategies for aligning tourism investment to the Chinese visitor market. He was expected to lead a 'Super Trade Mission', composed of around 400 entrepreneurs, to China in September.
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