12月8日，驻布里斯班总领事阮宗泽在澳大利亚全国性主流媒体《澳人报》纸质版和网络版发表署名文章《中澳关系的新春天》，宣介党的二十大提到的中国式现代化和中澳领导人巴厘岛会晤精神。全文如下：
New spring for the China-Australia relationship
After a bitter winter, China-Australia relations finally are embracing a spring of new opportunities. On November 15, during the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Anthony Albanese, both leaders noted that China and Australia needed to cherish the commitment made when establishing diplomatic relations, rise above disagreements, respect each other and seek mutual benefit and win-win results. This has pointed the direction for the steady growth of the relationship, which is of great significance.
First, it is conducive for a steady development of our bilateral relations to reaffirm our original commitments to rising above differences, mutual respect and mutual benefit. Years ago when China-Australia relations have encountered headwinds and been in low ebb, a key question is how to take an objective and correct look at each other’s differences and divisions. Fifty years ago, the joint communique concerning the establishment of diplomatic relations stated clearly, “The two governments agree to develop their diplomatic relations, friendship and co-operation between the two countries on the basis of the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual non-aggression, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.” This shows that differences and divisions haven’t stopped the two countries from establishing diplomatic ties, nor have those stopped our relations from developing at a staggering speed.
In 2014, China and Australia announced the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, marking our relations on a higher stage. As a matter of fact, the development and improvement of China-Australia relations is to change ourselves for a better one rather than to change the other one. Diplomacy is often a continuation of internal affairs. China adopts the vision of harmony without uniformity, while Australia is rich in experience and practice with multiculturalism. Our visions coincide.
Second, China and Australia, as countries in the Asia-Pacific region, enjoy the mutual benefit to safeguard the regional peace and prosperity. After World War II, an iron curtain of Cold war descended across the European continent and further influenced the world. After the Cold War, people are all aspiring for peace and development, whereas the world is still suffering in wars and conflicts. The Ukraine crisis this year is not only harmful to European stability but also to global energy security, food security and economies. As the most powerful military organisation in Europe, NATO, with its expansion, can’t shift the blame in the crisis as a conflict creator rather than a peacemaker. This offered us a profound lesson. We will see an endless flow of disastrous aftermath if anyone tries to implant the NATO model in the Asia-Pacific region. Any attempt to patch up a NATO replica in the Asia- Pacific will only sabotage the region’s security, stoke divisions, stir up conflicts and severely harm the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region. With lessons drawn from Europe’s mistake, the Asia-Pacific region shall not take the old tragic road. The only way out is to build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future.
Third, China-Australia co-operation will bring more public goods to the stable development of the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum was initiated by Australia and China actively joined and supported it. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank was initiated by China and Australia actively joined and supported it. This indicates that both countries have put forward constructive initiatives for the region’s development and supported each other. The 2008 global financial crisis gave birth to the G20, in which China and Australia have maintained good collaboration and support each other in the face of financial crisis. Benefited to some extent from strong economic co-operation with China, Australia has been a developed country free from a recession.
This indicates the complementary and mutual-benefit features of China-Australia co-operation. China is ready to be deeply involved in international co-operation on the digital economy, green and low-carbon development as well as actively seek accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, so as to promote Chinese modernisation. This will surely boost the China-Australia relationship and regional development and growth.
Fourth, third-party co-operation between China and Australia sees huge potential and will achieve collaborative development and win-win outcomes among regional countries. Southeastern Asia and the South Pacific are the natural bonds connecting China and Australia. With our respective and distinctive advantages, the two countries are fully capable of strengthening multilateral co-operation and co-ordination. The “China-Australia plus” co-operation model may be the solution to expand opportunities of shared development and cope with climate change in the region. President Xi said during his meeting with Prime Minister Albanese, “Both as important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China and Australia need to improve, uphold and further develop the relationship. It not only serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples but also helps to promote peace and development in the Asia-Pacific and beyond.”
As an Australian Aboriginal proverb goes, “Keep your eyes on the sun and you will not see the shadows.” People are expecting that China and Australia will aim high, draw wisdom and strength from past successful experience, take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to get the bilateral relations back on the right track, and strive for a better future of China-Australia relations.
Dr Ruan Zongze is the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Brisbane.
中澳关系的新春天
中澳关系在经历严冬之后终于迎来了春天，面临新机遇。2022年11月15日，中国国家主席习近平在巴厘岛会见澳大利亚总理阿尔巴尼斯，两国领导人均表示要秉持当年两国建交初心，超越分歧、相互尊重，互利共赢，为下阶段中澳关系的稳定发展指明了方向，具有重要意义。
首先，重新确认超越分歧、相互尊重，互利共赢的初心，有利于两国关系实现稳定发展。前几年中澳关系不幸遭遇逆流，陷入低谷，问题的关键是如何正确看待彼此的差异和分歧？50年前，中国与澳大利亚发表的建交公报中就明确表示：“两国政府同意，在互相尊重主权和领土完整、互不侵犯、互不干涉内政、平等互利和和平共处的原则的基础上，发展两国之间的外交、友好和合作关系。”由此可见，差异和分歧并未阻碍两国建交，而且建交后两国关系以惊人的速度获得长足发展。2014年，中澳宣布将两国关系提升为全面战略伙伴关系，让双边关系更上一层楼。事实上，中澳关系的发展与进步并非为了改变对方，而是成为更好的自己。外交往往是内政的延续。中国有“和而不同”的理念；澳大利亚有处理多元文化的经验和实践，两者相得益彰。
其次，中澳同处于亚太地区，均有维护本地区和平繁荣的共同利益。二战后冷战的铁幕在欧洲降临，其影响波及全球。冷战结束后，人们期盼和平与发展。然而，世界仍然遭受冲突与战争之苦。今年乌克兰危机爆发，不仅损害欧洲稳定而且影响全球能源安全、粮食安全和全球经济。作为欧洲最强大的军事组织，北约的扩张使之在乌克兰危机中难辞其咎，它不仅没能成为和平的维护者，反而成为冲突的制造者，教训极其深刻。如若将北约模式移植到亚太地区必将后患无穷。“亚太版的北约”只能加害亚太地区的安全，制造分裂，挑起冲突，严重损害亚太地区的和平与繁荣。前车之鉴，亚太地区绝不能重蹈欧洲悲剧的覆辙。因此，唯有共建亚太命运共同体才是出路。
第三，中澳携手有利于向亚太地区的稳定发展提供更多公共产品。亚太经济合作组织由澳大利亚倡导，中国积极参与和支持。亚洲基础设施投资银行由中国倡导，澳大利亚积极参与和支持。这说明中澳均为本地区的发展提出建设性的倡议，并获得相互支持。2008年金融危机催生了二十国集团，而中澳在二十国集团中同样保持良好合作，在应对金融危机中相互支持。澳大利亚成为发达国家中没有陷入衰退的国家，一定意义上得益与中国强劲的经贸合作，彰显了中澳优势互补、互利共赢的特色。中国将深度参与绿色低碳、数字经济等国际合作，积极推进加入《全面与进步跨太平洋伙伴关系协定》（CPTPP），以推进中国式现代化，必将为中澳和地区的发展与增长注入动力。
第四，中澳加强同第三方合作的潜力广阔，有利于带动本地区共同发展，实现多赢。东南亚、南太地区是连接中澳的天然纽带，中澳双方各有优势，完全可以在东南亚、南太地区加强多边合作与协调。“中澳+”合作模式有望成为亚太地区拓展共同发展机遇、携手应对气候变化等挑战的解决方案。习近平主席在会见阿尔巴尼斯总理时指出，中澳两国同为亚太地区重要国家，应该改善、维护、发展好两国关系，这不仅符合两国人民根本利益，也有利于促进亚太地区和世界和平与发展。
综上所述，澳大利亚有句谚语说，面朝阳光，阴影跑光。人们期待中澳登高望远，从两国关系的成功经验中汲取智慧和力量，以两国建交50周年为契机推动双边关系重回正轨，共创中澳关系更美好的明天。