Mr Peter Russo MP,

Mr John-Paul Langbroek MP,

Mr Michael Ma, 

Mr Zhiwu Zheng,

Members of the Parliament, Compatriots and friends,

It gives me great pleasure to attend the Reception. I would like to thank the ‘Friends of China’ MPs, Australia China Cultural and Economic Promotion Association (ACCEP) and Queensland Chinese United Council (QCUC) for co-organizing China Day event and inviting me to be here. I also want to extend my gratitude to the overseas Chinese community in Queensland for your enthusiastic participation and support. Holding tonight’s event reflects the good will of Queensland and its people to develop relations with China, as well as the recognition of Queensland’s culturally diverse society for the Chinese community.

Members of the Parliament, compatriots and friends,

China-Queensland friendship enjoys a solid foundation. This afternoon, the Chinese Consulate General and ‘Friends of China’ MPs also held the opening ceremony of the China-Queensland Friendship Photo Exhibition in the Parliament, displaying more than 300 photos from our sister-states and sister-cities as well as the public. Those photos reflect the outstanding achievements, memorable stories and wonderful moments of China-Queensland friendly cooperation in various fields. By exploring historical and cultural ties and reviewing the history of exchanges and cooperation, we hope to strengthen emotional links and expand the convergence of our interests, so that mutual respect and mutual benefit will become values shared by both of us.

In 1848, more than 300 Chinese made their arduous journey to Darling Downs from Xiamen to look after sheep, and were eventually laid to rest by the Balonne River. The early Chinese settlers made significant contributions to the development of Queensland’s agriculture, farming, horticulture, water management, etc. For example, since Chinese pioneers established much of the banana plantations in Queensland and lots of bananas are grown in this state, Queenslanders earned the moniker ‘Banana Benders’. Those Chinese farmers in Queensland were also the first to introduce the cultivation of rice, corn, peanuts, pineapples, mushrooms and so on. As Chinese Consul-General in Brisbane, I have visited Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and some places in Brisbane and saw traces of Chinese participation in early days in local development. In the future, I am ready to work with you to discover more history of friendly exchanges between our peoples, so that China-Australia and China-Queensland friendly ties will be carried forward from generation to generation.

The new generation of Chinese immigrants have inherited the spirit of persevering and working hard of their predecessors. Bearing the fine culture and traditional virtues of the Chinese nation in mind, they work hard to promote local economic and social development, cultural exchanges and integration while achieving happiness in their own lives. As a bridge to strengthen China-Queensland friendship and practical cooperation, as well as staunch supporters and beneficiaries of multiculturalism, they play an important role in promoting China-Australia friendly cooperation. Tonight's performance gave a glimpse of the splendid traditional Chinese culture and told stories about different civilizations promoting mutual understanding through exchanges and mutual learning.

At present, China is advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. In the first half of this year, global economic growth slowed down. Against this backdrop, China's GDP experienced a healthy growth rate of 5.5 percent year-on-year, significantly higher than its 3 percent GDP growth for 2022. This year, IMF maintains 5.2 percent growth forecast for China. China will respond to the uncertainties of the global economy with its stability and inject momentum into global economic growth.

China-Australia relations have been stabilized and improved with dialogue and exchanges increased in various fields and at different levels. Recently, Mr Hua Yuan, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, visited Queensland and was warmly received. He renewed a Sister State Agreement with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Premier Palaszczuk has also expressed her willingness to visit China and attend the CIIE, and we will provide assistance in this regard. In the second half of this year, China will also host a series of trade and investment events such as the 6th CIIE, the 134th Canton Fair, CIFTIS 2023, the First China International Supply Chain Expo, etc., which will provide high-quality platforms for all sectors of Queensland to engage in economic and trade cooperation with Chinese enterprises. As China Southern Airlines will resume non-stop flights to Brisbane in November, we welcome more members of parliament and friends of various sectors to visit China to enhance mutual understanding and friendship, explore new opportunities for cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, science and technology, and write a new chapter of mutually beneficial cooperation for the benefit of the two peoples.

Members of the Parliament, compatriots and friends,

The fact that until now, the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have not been fully reunified is a wound left by history on the Chinese nation. Resolving the Taiwan question and realizing China’s complete reunification is a shared aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, and the Communist Party of China the Chinese government, and the Chinese people have striven for decades to achieve this goal. On the new journey of the new era, the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government will continue to rally compatriots on both sides of the Straits in conforming to the general trend of history and striving for achieving national reunification and rejuvenation. The historic goal of reuniting our motherland must be realized and will be realized.

Thank you! I wish this ‘China Day’ event a complete success!