Top dignitaries attend ceremony marking 50th anniversary of official ties between nations
Chinese soprano Ya Fen and Australian mezzo-soprano Victoria Lambourn perform a song together at a concert held in Canberra, Australia, in July. (CHU CHEN / XINHUA)
Representatives of governments, businesses, colleges, media outlets and other organizations from China and Australia spoke highly of the friendship between the two countries and expressed their willingness to deepen relations at recent events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.
On Dec 9, the Chinese embassy in Australia held a reception to celebrate the anniversary. The event was attended by nearly 600 guests from government, industry, educational institutions, cultural organizations, news outlets, and Chinese-funded organizations, among others, according to the embassy.
At the event, Xiao Qian, China's ambassador to Australia, expressed heartfelt thanks and tremendous respect to all those in Australia who have contributed to the development of China-Australia relations.
He said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have respected each other politically, complemented one another in pragmatic cooperation, learned from each other culturally, maintained communication, worked together in regional and international affairs, and achieved win-win outcomes.
"History has proved that China and Australia can absolutely achieve harmony and find common ground while reserving differences, and serve as an example of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation among countries with different cultural traditions, political systems and development stages," Xiao noted.
He emphasized that China is ready to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to make joint efforts with Australia to promote the continuous development of the China-Australia strategic comprehensive partnership to benefit the two countries and their people, following the principle of mutual respect and benefit.
Nicholas Whitlam, son of former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam, stressed that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China is a milestone in the history of bilateral relations. He recalled that his father wrote in a letter to Stephen FitzGerald, Australia's first ambassador to China, that Australia sought to develop relations with China on the basis of friendship, cooperation and mutual trust, according to the Chinese embassy in Australia.
Craig Emerson, Australia's former minister for trade and competitiveness, pointed out that the two countries have benefited immensely from their pragmatic cooperation thanks to peaceful coexistence and mutual respect. He suggested that both sides continue to maintain and further this relationship.
Paul Pinkewich and Noel Shorter, members of an Australian table tennis delegation that visited China before the establishment of diplomatic relations, recalled the great hospitality of the Chinese people. They said that they are honored to be part of the history behind the development of Australia-China relations.
The Chinese embassy in Australia set up an interactive exhibition area themed around traditional Chinese culture at the reception venue. It offered guests an opportunity to try their hand at Chinese calligraphy, the art of paper-cutting and other crafts.
The guests spoke highly of China's development achievements and the outcomes from the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations, according to the embassy.
At a reception celebrating the anniversary hosted by the Consulate General of China in Sydney on Dec 12, Zhou Limin, Chinese consul general in Sydney, said that China-Australia relations were jointly built by the older generations of leaders of the two countries, according to a report by people.com.cn.
Over the past five decades, the relations between the two countries have advanced smoothly in general. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of fields have yielded fruitful results, which have benefited the people of both countries, Zhou said.
He noted that the 50-year development of China-Australia relations shows that a correct understanding of the situation is the prerequisite for the sustainable development of relations; mutual benefit and win-win cooperation are the essential attributes of the relations; and the bond between the Chinese and Australian people is the foundation for sustained development of the relations.
New South Wales is the main force and a leader in pragmatic cooperation between China and Australia, he said. He added that China is ready to strengthen dialogue with the state, utilize each other's advantages and work toward new achievements in friendly bilateral cooperation in a bid to contribute more positive energy to China-Australia relations.
Margaret Beazley, governor of New South Wales, said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China, the friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation in sectors including economy, trade, education, culture and technology have delivered fruitful outcomes, people.com.cn reported.
She said that New South Wales attaches importance to developing cooperation with China and values its friendly ties with Guangdong, the state's sister province in China.
She said she visited Guangdong shortly after she became the governor of New South Wales and planted a ginkgo tree in the governor's office with Zhou in 2021. It symbolizes the friendship between New South Wales and Guangdong and the hope that the relationship between the two sides will develop continuously and healthily.
Looking forward to the next 50 years, the governor said that it's her hope that Australia and China will uphold the original aspirations for establishing diplomatic relations, adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and work toward new progress in the friendly cooperation between the two sides.
Approximately 200 guests attended the Sydney reception. They included: Pru Bennett, chairwoman of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations; Crispin Conroy, the state director of the New South Wales state office of the department of foreign affairs and trade; and Andrew Parfitt, president of the University of Technology Sydney, according to the people.com.cn report.