China’s Development Opens up New Opportunities for the World

——Remarks by Consul-General Dr Ruan Zongze at the Reception in Celebration of the 74th Anniversary of The Founding of the People's Republic of China

（21 September 2023, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre)

I would like to begin by acknowledging Hon Mark Furner, Representative of Premier, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities; Councillor Steven Huang, Representative of Lord Mayor of Brisbane; Mr Michael Choi, Vice President of Australia China Business Council Queensland Branch; Mr PU Haiyang, President of China Chamber of Commerce in Australia Brisbane Branch and Mr Michael Ma, President of Queensland Chinese United Council,

Distinguished guests and friends,

Today, we are gathering here to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Over the past 74 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), China has experienced profound and transformative changes. CPC has never forgotten its founding mission, nor wavered in its pursuit. It has united all the people and led them created miracle upon miracle. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has focused on economic growth, pursued high-quality development as the overarching task, implemented the new development philosophy fully and faithfully, and accelerated the efforts to create a new development dynamic. We have witnessed the continuous realization of Chinese people's aspirations for a better life, the completion of the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and the elimination of absolute poverty in China. The prospects of the national rejuvenation have never been so bright.

Facing global changes unseen in a century, and keeping in mind both China’s realities and global developments, President Xi Jinping creatively put forth the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind ten years ago. He also put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, calling for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit. China cannot develop by shutting itself from the world, nor can the world maintain peace and prosperity by shutting out China. On the journey ahead, China will stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of human progress, making even greater contributions to the building of a better world.

Ten years ago, President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to mobilise global efforts for common development. As the BRI promotes robust growth along the Silk Roads, it has become a popular public goods as well as international cooperation platform featuring openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. Over the past decade, China has signed more than 200 cooperation documents related to the BRI with 152 countries and 32 international organizations. In October this year, China will host the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, which will serve as an important platform for multi-party discussions on high-quality BRI cooperation. So far, representatives from more than 110 countries have confirmed their participation in the forum. The BRI may be China’s idea, but its opportunities and outcomes are going to benefit the world. China is ready to work with all other countries under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, to pave way for increased and deeper cooperation for the benefit of the world.

Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Australia, and this year we are standing at the new starting point of another 50 years. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Australia relations have continued to improve and entered a new stage of further development. Both China and Australia are advocates, practitioners and beneficiaries of free trade. Our economies are highly complementary, our people are friendly to each other, and there are no historical disputes or major real conflicts of interest between us. The Asia-Pacific region is a shared home for countries in the region, including China and Australia, which means a sound and stable China-Australia relationship is the common aspiration and serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China will continue to work with Australia, stick to our comprehensive strategic partnership, promote the sound, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations, bring more benefits to the two peoples and contribute to regional peace, stability and development.

This year, the Chinese economy has generally been on an upward trajectory, and solid progress has been made in high-quality development, which has boosted confidence in global economic growth. The Chinese economy enjoys strong resilience, ample potential and robust dynamism, and the fundamentals sustaining China’s sound economic growth in the long run remain unchanged. In the first half of this year, China's GDP grew by 5.5 percent year-over-year and is expected to reach its annual growth target of around 5 percent, contributing at least one-third of world growth. Reform and opening-up are China’s basic policies, and provide fundamental driving force for its development. Against the backdrop of sluggish global trade and economic growth, China's imports and exports reached 27 trillion yuan ($3.7 trillion) during the first eight months of 2023, still at a relatively high year-over-year level. In August, the state Council of China issued 24 new guidelines to further optimize business environment for multinational corporation. China is pursuing high-quality development and the Chinese path to modernization in an all-round way, which will present huge market demand and vast opportunities to countries around the world, including Australia.

China-Queensland exchanges and cooperation enjoy a solid foundation, broad prospects and great resilience. China and Australia are economically complementary and both are supporters and promoters of the multilateral trading system. China has been Queensland's largest trading partner for many years. China welcomes more Queensland companies and partners to invest and start business in China. Chinese companies are showing increasing interest in investing in Queensland. Providing a positive business environment for Chinese companies in Queensland will also help boost local economic growth and employment, which serves the common interests of both China and Queensland. The sub-national cooperation between China and Queensland maintains a momentum of development. The forms and contents of exchanges between sister cities/states are constantly enriched, with cultural and economic exchanges remain extensive. Queensland has many overseas Chinese and students, who play a bridging role in promoting China-Queensland friendly relations and pragmatic cooperation. They support and are benefited from China-Australia friendship and cooperation. As direct flights between Brisbane and Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou gradually resume, we welcome more personnel exchanges between the two sides, so as to explore new opportunities in the fields of economy and trade, education, technology, culture, etc. China is willing to actively support Queensland in hosting the 2032 Brisbane Summer Olympics and Paralympics, giving more room for growth. 

Seeing is believing. I’d like to invite Australian friends to visit China. I am pretty sure that you will find a dynamic and charming China! Should you miss China, you will miss the future!

Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification is a historic mission of the CPC and a shared aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation. It is indispensable for the realization of China’s rejuvenation. We on the mainland and in Taiwan share the same roots, culture, and ethnic identity; it is the long and continuous Chinese culture that has instilled vitality in us and given us a sense of belonging, which is the treasure and spiritual bond shared by compatriots on both sides of the Strait. The CPC and the Chinese government will continue to rally compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, advance with the trend towards national reunification, and actively promote peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and integrated development of the two sides. We will join hands with our fellow compatriots in Taiwan to strive for national reunification and rejuvenation. The complete reunification of our country will be and must be realized.

In conclusion, China will do well only when the world does well, and vice versa. China always stands for peace, development, cooperation and win-win results, and is committed to building world peace, contributing to global development and safeguarding the international order. The Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane is willing to continue to work with the Queensland government and people from all sectors to take China-Queensland cultural exchanges, trade and practical cooperation in all areas to a new level and consolidate the foundation of China-Australia friendly relations in the new era.

Thank you!