The Hon. Ben Carroll MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education & Medical Research of Victoria, representing Premier Jacinta Allan,

The Hon. Steve Dimopoulos MP, Minister for Toursim, Sports and Major Events of Victoria,

The Hon. Michael Sukkar MP, Federal Member for Deakin,

Mr. David Southwick MP, Deputy leader of the opposition of Victoria, representing the leader of opposition John Pessoto,

Mr. Paul Hamer MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Growth,

Mr. Johathan Burke, representing the Governor H.E. Professor Margaret Gardner AC,

Mr. Timothy Kane, Director of DFAT Victoria State Office,

Distinguished Members of Victorian Parliament, the Lord Mayor, Mayors and all city Councillors,

Colleagues from Consular Corps in Melbourne,

Business, media, academic representatives and compatriots,

Ladies and gentlemen, all friends from Victoria and Tasmania,

Good evening! It’s such a pleasure to have a full house of guests tonight, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China and 10th Anniversary of the Establishment of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. First of all, on behalf of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Melbourne, I would like to extend our sincere welcome and greetings to all guests present, and our heartfelt thanks to our friends from all walks of life, for caring for, supporting and committing to China-Australia friendship and China-Victoria, China-Tasmania cooperation over the years! Thank you all!

I noticed some friends are looking at the watch, checking the time. In China, there is a very popular song named “Where has the time gone?”. So, I would like to share with you 3 numbers. They are “75”, “10” and “1”, which I believe will help you understand where time has gone.

The first number "75" refers to the 75 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China. History-wise, 75 years, three fourth of a century, is merely a fleeting moment. But for the Chinese people, 75 years are long enough to tell the endless hard endeavour and dramatic changes. I find it’s not easy to summarize in one or two lines what China has achieved so far, or to share with you all the stories and exciting moment. I took an interview on Monday, focusing on China’s progess and achievement, and there is a small photo exhibition outside the ballroom on the same topic, hopefully this could help you have a better understanding of New China’s historical moments.

The past 75 years witnessed the tremendous efforts, hardship and success of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, led by the Communist Party of China, in nation building and nation development, in modernization drive, in making the miracles of sustained economic growth and social stability over years. It is proud to see China rising from an extremely poor and backward country to a moderately prosperous society, world's second largest economy, contributing over 30 percent of the global economic growth, as major stabilizer and driver of world economy. China has brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty, accounting for over 70 percent of global poverty alleviation. China has joined the world's most innovative countries in science and technology. There is a long list of China’s achievement as world number one or number two in manufacturing, foreign trade, foreign exchange reserves, digital economy, as well as high speed train and highway network, among others. China is not alone in developing itself. Domestically, China is dedicated to pursuing happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Internationally, China is dedicated to human progress and world harmony. China follows the path of peaceful development, initiated the Global Development, Global Security and Global Civilization Initiatives, to build a Community of Shared Future for mankind in a way of shared and win-win devleopment. These are China’s role of and contribution to global development and global governance, these are committment China has made both to its own people and to its neighbours and global partners. This is what I, as a Chinese citizen and diplomat, feel so proud of.

Ladies and gentlemen, the second  number is"10", refering to the 10 years since the establishment of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Australia in 2014. In the past 10 years, despite ups and downs in bilateral relations, our two countries have maintained strong vitality and resilience and finally achieved fruitful results in cooperation in various fields. This year 2024 is a year of harvest for China-Australia relations. In June, Premier Li Qiang visited Australia and reached new consensuses with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in fields of visa, education, free trade agreement, climate change, culture, tourism, etc, which injected strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations. In 2023, China-Australia bilateral trade volume in goods exceeded 330 billion AUD. China has been Australia’s largest trading partner for 15 consecutive years since 2009, and remains Australia’s largest export destination and largest source of imports. This year, Australian wine, beef and other products get back to the Chinese market, which contributed significantly to Australia's economic development and brought tangible benefits to the Australian people. As Premier Li Qiang puts, China-Australia relationship is mutually beneficial in nature, and the two countries’ respective development is the other’s opportunities, instead of challenges. China stands ready to work with Australia, based on the principle of mutual respect, mutual benefit and seeking common ground while shelving differences, to build our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership more fruitful in the next decade and beyond. 

Ladies and gentlemen, the third number is "1", refering to the year 2024 which showcases the collaboration between Victoria, Tasmania and China. Many friends keep asking me, what have you done in the past 7 months? Wher has your time gone? Let me try to answer that. Since my arrival in February, time is spent on meeting with friends, old and new, in Victoria and Tasmania, from government officials, university professors, business people, to artistis, schloars, teachers and students. Time is spent on visiting Chinese community associations and attending numerous local activities, not only in Melbourne, but also in Gelong, Balarat, Bendigo, Horbat and Lanceston, where our friendship has been renewed and greatly enhanced. Time is spent on promoting mutual visits at all levels, fulfilling the role of the Consulate being a bridge for exchanges and cooperation. Time is spent on hosting events such as the Chinese New Year Reception, Chinese New Year Concert, Chinese Culture Day, Chinese Film Week, Chinese Student Day, etc.. Time is spent on providing better consular service to our nationals, institutions and business people, and offerting more convinience in visa facilitation and other services to those traveling to China for business, tourism, work, study, family visit, among others.

There are new progress this year in many fields. High-level exchanges have been more frequent. The Hon. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll has just concluded his visit to China. Before the end of the year, Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency Professor The Hon. Margaret Gardner, and Premier of Tasmania, The Hon. Jeremy Rockliff will visits to China. 

Economic and trade ties have been closer. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Victoria and Tasmania's trade with China accounted for more than one quarter of their total foreign trade. China remains the largest trading partner of Victoria and Tasmania. 

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges have been flourishing. This year saw a rising number of visits between both sides from different levels. Now there are 9 airlines operating between Melbourne and Chinese cities, with 66 flights per week. Nearly 60,000 Chinese students are now studying in the reigon. The number of Chinese tourists in Victoria and Tasmania has gradually recovered and will usher in new rise in the coming months, thanks to the warmer weather, white Christmas, new year, Chinese new year, and the Australian Open. 

This year marks the 45th anniversary of sister state relations between Jiangsu Province and Victoria. A series of celebration events have been carried out by both sides to set off a new high of sub-national exchanges and cooperation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In July, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held in China. In this ambitious plan of action, there are 3 key words to bear in mind for reference. The first is deepening reform comprehensively, the second is high-level opening-up, and the third is high-quality development. This delivers a clear signal that China will further expand its high-level opening-up and showcases China's resolve to achieve win-win development with the whole world. China's modernization drive will profoundly change China, and meanwhile will also bring greater opportunity to the world, to Australia, to Victoria and Tasmania as well. 

Time is always limited, and always falls short of the work required. This is what I feel, like many friends. In developing China-Australia relations and promoting sub-national collaboration, some may feel that it is already enough. To them, less is more, but to me, more is still less. 

I would quote a line from late Chairman Mao Zedong’s poem to share with you and end my speech, “So many deeds are crying to be done, always urgently; ten thousand years are too long. Seize the day, seize the hour”. This encourages my colleagues and I to work diligently with you, do more and do better, for our joint collaboration and brighter furture. Just as it puts, “seize the day, seize the hour”.

Thank you!