(11 January 2023, Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre)
Dear compatriots, guests and friends,
Good evening!
Three years after the COVID-19 outbreak, this is our first time celebrating the Chinese New Year offline, a long-awaited reception. I’m as excited as every one of you.
On behalf of the Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane, I send my sincere gratitude for your care and support to our work, and hope to receive continuous support and help in the future.
As the Spring Festival of the Year of the Rabbit is approaching, I would like to extend an early New Year greeting to you all. Happy Chinese Lunar New Year!
2022 is a year of exceptional significance for China. the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is successfully convened. An ambitious blueprint has been drawn for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization, which contributes the China’s solution for the common challenges faced by mankind. China provides precious certainty and stability for the complex and fluid international landscape. The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has united the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and led us in rising to challenges, overcoming all difficulties, addressing both domestic and international imperatives, making coordinated progress in COVID-19 response and in economic and social development, and scoring new, great successes in the cause of the Party and the country.
The Chinese economy has remained the second largest in the world and enjoyed sound development. In first three quarters of 2022, China’s GDP grew by 3.0 per cent year-on-year and is likely to exceed 18 trillion US dollars.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said in the New Year address, “Today's China is a country where dreams become reality. Going forward, China will be a country that performs miracles through hard work.”
Dear guests and friends,
Since COVID-19 began, China has always put the people and their lives above all else. We have made the best effort to protect people’s life and health and effectively coordinated COVID response with economic and social development. China has always shared its information and data responsibly with the international community. The Chinese government has taken responsible policies and measures, done its best and made important contributions to protecting Chinese people’s lives and health and promoting global solidarity against the pandemic and world economic recovery and growth.
Recently, in light of the latest COVID situation, based on scientific and rational analysis, the Chinese government has adapted and adjusted its COVID response measures and published the provisional measures on cross-border travel, which are welcomed by countries around the world. We will continue to closely monitor whether the virus would mutate, share information on COVID in a timely, open and transparent manner in accordance with the law, and work with the international community to address the COVID challenge. As we shift gear in our COVID policy, Chinese economic recovery will be fast-forwarded.
China will only open its door even wider to the outside world. Australian companies are welcome to invest and operate in China. China’s steady and sound economic growth in the long run remain unchanged. China’s huge market and high-quality development are sure to bring more enduring opportunities to Australia and countries worldwide. The China - Australia Chamber of Commerce released results of a survey showing that two thirds of Australian companies plan to exceed pre-pandemic levels of investment in China.
In recent years, China and Queensland have engaged in close people-to-people exchanges, carried fruitful economic and trade cooperation and highlighted the mutual-benefit China-Australia relations. Chinese companies invest and operate in Queensland, blend in with local communities, creating jobs, and boost Queensland economic development, which is well received. The Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane will continue working with Queensland government and all walks of life to jointly enhance cultural and trade exchanges, practical cooperation in various fields, laying a solid foundation for China-Australia friendship.
Dear guests and friends,
The history of Chinese immigration in Australia and Queensland is a long story. Gold rush and mining by Chinese in Northern Territory and Victoria have turned many places in Australia from wasteland to communities. 170 years ago, “Xiamen shepherds” came to make a living in Queensland. Chinese pedlars revitalized Cairns, a beautiful city in Northern Queensland. Chinese farmers in Queensland introduced the cultivation of rice, maize, peanut, pineapple, banana, mushroom, etc. The new century witnesses a surge in the number of Chinese specialists in different areas. With their wisdom and spirit of hard work and persistence, generations of overseas Chinese strive to not only earn their happy life, but also contribute to the local socioeconomic development, cultural exchanges and fusion. Overseas Chinese have now become an important part of Australian multiculturalism and made unique contribution to the understanding and friendship between Chinese and Australian people.
Facing both COVID pandemic and downward pressure on China-Australia relations, you overcome difficulties, work with concerted efforts against the pandemic, dedicate to serving the community, take active measures to safeguard legitimate rights and interests, and epitomize the good qualities of helping each other and strong sense of responsibility. I send my sincere gratitude and pay my highest respect to you.
Hope you can better integrate into and give back to the local community, grasp the opportunity of a better China-Australia relations, take advantage of the linking role between two countries and bridge the exchanges and cooperation between two countries. Hope you can further enhance China-Australia cultural exchanges, promote Chinese culture, contribute to the mutual understanding and friendship between China and Australia, and add positive energy to China-Australia relations.
Dear guests and friends,
In another eleven days, we will welcome the Spring Festival of 2023. This is the most important festival in traditional Chinese culture, celebrated by sons and daughters of the Chinese nation worldwide.
The Spring Festival is not only for grand celebration, but also with powerful homesickness. Many Chinese compatriots take this festival to express their strong nostalgia and love for motherland. You are also close to the heart of the motherland.
Chinese culture, including the Spring Festival, have been the bond to promote people-to-people contact and friendship. Many Australian friends always learn about China through their love of Chinese culture and become a bridge for the friendship between two countries. In Queensland and Australia, advocated by the government and legislators, actively supported by all circles of society, the multiculturalism has fast developed as one of the most significant features of Australia. Here I’d like to thank all the friends for your support to events held by Chinese community and contribution to China-Australia cultural exchanges. My special thanks goes to Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Brisbane City Council, for your Spring Festival reception every year which boosts the Chinese integration into local community. In October this year, Brisbane will hold the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors' Forum. I believe this will open a window for further cultural exchanges and practical cooperation in this region. I wish the event a complete success!
Each civilization is the crystallization of human creation, and each is beautiful in its own national spirit. Diversity spurs interaction among civilizations, which in turn promotes mutual learning and their further development, maintains their own vitality. People are the best bridge for exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations. Closer people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning, for that matter, is a sure way to eliminate estrangement and misunderstanding and promote mutual understanding among nations. Chinese Consulate-General will actively promote the cooperation in education, culture, science and technology, sports, health and various fields between China and Australia, China and Queensland. We will set up exchanges between our sister states and sister cities, among the youth, cultural groups, media, think tanks and different circles. We will explore more channels of cooperation. Such efforts will boost exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
China’s diplomatic service have always put the people front and centre and put actions behind the purpose of whole-heartedly serving the people. During the past year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, amid complex COVID and international and regional landscape, we worked with all our hearts, minds and strength to protect the safety of Chinese nationals abroad and safeguard their lawful rights and interests, doing our best to provide good service and defend the interests of our compatriots overseas. In the new year, the Consulate-General will continue acting on the commitment of serving the people, as a ready provider of high-quality services.
Dear guests and friends,
“The wind stops and frost melts, while the world enters into a moderate weather.” Despite most parts still covered under snow and ice, China is ready to embrace a spring with a spirit of youth in everything.
The turn of winter into spring can also be applied to the development of China-Australia relations today. Not long ago, China and Australia jointly celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties. Leaders of the two countries held a successful meeting and exchanged congratulatory messages. The two countries also held Foreign and Strategic Dialogue and issued a content-rich Joint Outcomes Statement. The precious experience from the past half century has proved again that as long as both sides stick to right direction and the spirit of mutual respect, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and mutual learning, renew commitment to the relationship, put it back on the right track, and set out on a new journey, China-Australia relations are sure to embrace new, bigger progress.
May our great splendid motherland enjoy prosperity and people live in harmony!
May the China-Australia friendship keep advancing and be fruitful and long-lasting!
May you and your family be prosperous, fortunate and happy!
Thank You.