Distinguished Professor Colin Mackerras,

Dear guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning!

    I am very happy to come to Brisbane to attend the Seminar in Commemoration of Professor Colin Mackerras’s Sixty Years’ Teaching in China and Australia-China Relations. Professor Colin Mackerras is an old friend of the Chinese people. During his 60 years of association with China, he has made outstanding contributions to promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and Australia with countless works and earnest practices. During his visit to Australia 10 years ago, President Xi Jinping spoke highly of Professor Colin Mackerras, saying that he has built a bridge of mutual understanding and amity between our people with his unremitting efforts and devotion. I believe this comment also struck a deep chord with our Chinese people. Last year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, the Chinese Embassy in Australia and Consulates General published a commemorative collection Fifty People Fifty Stories, which includes the stories of contributors to China-Australia friendship, including those of Professor Colin Mackerras and Ms. Joycelyn Chey, who also participated in this seminar.

    Professor Colin Mackerras has known China for longer than the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. Over the past 60 years, he has witnessed China's social changes and experienced the gradual affluence of the Chinese people's lives. He has always adhered to his original aspirations and his heartfelt enthusiasm for China has not wavered in the slightest due to the ups and downs of China-Australia relations. With the objective, rigorous, truth-seeking and pragmatic attitude of a scholar, he insisted on studying China in his own way. He pioneered the study of China by Australian scholars in the fields of Chinese opera, ethnic minorities, modern history and other fields, and achieved fruitful results. Knowing about his various contributions in cultural exchanges between China and Australia, I was inspired and moved by his firm and persistent spirit. It is precisely because of a group of China-Australia friendship envoys like Professor Colin Mackerras that China-Australia relations always contain vitality even in the face of difficulties.

    Having undergone changes over the past half century, China-Australia relations have become more mature, stable, and resilient. In recent years, exchanges between the two sides at all levels in various fields such as politics, economy and trade, education, culture, and tourism have been further restored and developed. During Prime Minister Albanese's successful visit to China in November last year, President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Albanese provided important strategic guidance on improving and developing China-Australia relations. Our Prime Ministers issued a Joint Statement on the key outcomes, which provided a roadmap for promoting the development of China-Australia relations. In March this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi successfully visited Australia and held the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and had in-depth exchanges with people from all walks of life in Australia.  Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Australia has also been put on the agenda, and relations between the two countries continue to maintain a good momentum of stabilization and improvement. Holding this seminar at this important moment shows that everyone is full of expectations for the steady development of China-Australia relations.

    Right now, changes in the world, in our times and in history are unfolding in ways like never before, The world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. Destabilizing, uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. Unilateralism and bloc politics are taking a heavy toll on the international system. Protectionism and pan-security have impacted the world economy. New challenges such as artificial intelligence and climate change are emerging one after another. Against the backdrop of the current international and regional situation, as important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China and Australia should establish a correct understanding of each other, deepen practical cooperation and properly handle differences which not only serves the common interests of the two countries, but also contributes to peace, stability and prosperity of the region and even the world.

    As the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, I would like to share three expectations from a Chinese perspective：

    First, take an objective view of China-Australia relations. Improving and developing China-Australia relations is in the common interests of the two countries and our peoples, in line with the common expectations of regional countries, and will also help the international community better cope with various risks and challenges brought about by the century-old changes in the world. There is neither historical grudge nor real conflict between China and Australia. Our common interests far outweigh our differences. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. "Comprehensive" means that China and Australia not only carry out economic and trade cooperation, but also carry out cooperation in all aspects, fields and levels. "Strategic" means that the importance of the relationship between the two countries goes beyond bilateral relations and has regional and even global significance. "Partners" means that China and Australia are friends rather than enemies, partners rather than rivals. At this new starting point, we hope that China and Australia will view each other in a rational, friendly and inclusive way, pursue positive, pragmatic and objective policies, meet each other halfway and properly handle differences, so that cooperation will continue to be the mainstream of China-Australia relations, win-win results will be reflected in all areas of bilateral cooperation, sustained and steady development of China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership will be promoted and more benefits for the two peoples will be created.

    Second, carry out pragmatic cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win results. Although China and Australia differ in history, political system, ideology and even culture, our two economies are highly complementary and have huge potential. We can be described as natural partners of cooperation, which is the important foundation of the friendly cooperation between our two countries in the past 50 years. According to Australian statistics, the total trade in goods between the two countries hit a record high of more than 300 billion Australian dollars last year, a year-on-year increase of 8.2%. Australia's trade surplus with China has been in operation for more than 20 consecutive years, and last year's surplus was 98.5 billion Australian dollars, accounting for nearly 80% of Australia's foreign trade surplus. Practical cooperation between China and Australia is of great importance to both countries. The two sides should continue to consolidate and deepen cooperation in traditional areas such as energy and mining, agriculture, education and tourism, and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as climate change, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, health industry, green economy, digital economy and scientific and technological innovation. We sincerely hope that the two sides will give full play to their complementary strengths, tap the potential of cooperation, make the pie of common interests bigger and provide a sound business environment for the investment and operation of enterprises in both countries.

    Third, build a bridge of people-to-people ties. Overseas sinologists have left unique and profound historical marks in the magnificent history of Sino-foreign exchanges. Their extensive and profound research results have promoted the cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and foreign civilizations, and presented an accurate, multidimensional and panoramic image of China. Australia has a group of people like Professor Colin Mackerras who know China well and are friends with China. Because of their deep understanding of China, Chinese culture and Chinese people, they can always strengthen their confidence in China-Australia relations, and to speak out in justice at critical moments. We are fortunate to have them because blindfolding, hearsay and generalizations can only bring harm to China-Australia relations and the friendship between the two peoples. "Each age brings forth new genius on this noble land, and each will rule its own domain for years to come." We look forward to strengthening academic exchanges between China and Australia, jointly exploring new areas and new directions for exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilizations, and promoting the stability and long-term development of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We also look forward to young scholars passing on the baton of China-Australia friendship, injecting vitality into China-Australia cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and contributing their wisdom and strength to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

    There is no doubt that Professor Colin Mackerras is a pioneer and practitioner of cultural exchanges between China and Australia. It is precisely because of the choices he made 60 years ago that more people have the courage and confidence to approach and embrace China. Here, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Colin Mackerras once again, and wish him good health and long life, and that he will always serve as a beacon leading everyone in the cultural exchanges between China and Australia during his lifetime.

    The Chinese traditional Ganzhi (Stem-Branch) calendar system sets that every 60 years is a cycle, and the 60th year is called Jiazi Year. The year of Jiazi is of great significance as it is considered a new beginning, symbolizing new opportunities and challenges. People believe that in the Year of Jiazi, we should sum up the experiences and lessons of the past and welcome the new future. This year is thus memorable because it marks the first Jiazi year of Professor Colin Mackerras teaching in China. The everlasting friendship between the Chinese and Australian peoples cannot be forged without the efforts of all of you present. Let us take this seminar as a new starting point and work together to open up a new future for China-Australia relations.

    To conclude, I wish this seminar a complete success.