Distinguished Brigadier Nerolie McDonald, Australian Department of Defence,

Military Attachés,Distinguished Guests, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon!

Welcome you all to the Chinese Embassy and to celebrate with us the 96th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China.

Over the past 96 years, the PLA has written a glorious history of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. In the wartime era, this people’s army distinguished itself fighting for national independence and people’s liberation, resisting aggression and protecting the homeland. Generation after generation of servicemen and women have made heroic sacrifice and remarkable achievements. While in times of peace, the PLA patrol the border, counter terrorism, maintain stability, offer emergency service, prevent and control pandemic, participate in international peacekeeping, maritime escort and humanitarian relief missions. The PLA is an army of victory, discipline, and peace. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping’s thought on strengthening the military, the PLA faithfully implements its missions of the new era, advancing the modernization of national defence, building a world-class armed force, and steadfastly safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests.

The world is experiencing profound changes unseen in a century. Security challenges, instabilities and uncertainties are notably on the rise. Against this backdrop, China is firmly pursuing peaceful development. It is always a builder of world peace, contributor to global development and defender of the international order. The PLA will stay committed to safeguarding regional stability and promoting world peace. It is determined to make new and greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

——China will stay committed to the independent foreign policy of peace. China’s defence policy remains defensive in nature. China’s military expenditure as a percentage of GDP has remained lower than the world average. China’s military modernization will not pose a threat to any other country, but will build a positive force for maintaining regional stability and world peace.

——China pursues a new security concept that focuses on common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. China advocates partnerships rather than alliances and does not join any military bloc. China stands against aggression and expansion, and opposes arbitrary use or threat of arms.

——China will make great efforts to advance international cooperation on military and security, jointly respond to different security challenges including both traditional and non-traditional ones, facilitate a security and cooperation framework in the interest of regional peace, stability and prosperity, and play a constructive role on resolving hotspot issues in different parts of the world.

——China will play an active and leading role in international peacekeeping and humanitarian missions. China is the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the P5 of the UN Security Council, and the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget. Over the past three decades and more, China has sent more than 50,000 peacekeepers to serve in UN peacekeeping missions in over 20 countries and regions, with 25 sacrificed their lives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

China-Australia military ties enjoy a long tradition. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries more than 50 years ago, the two militaries have maintained close exchanges at various levels. The leaders of China's Central Military Commission, theater commands and services have visited Australia. The Australian Defence Minister, the Commander of Australian Defence Force, Defence Secretary and Generals of services have visited China. The two countries have established mechanisms such as annual defence strategic consultation and annual Defence Ministry meeting, and have held 30 consultations and meetings since 1997. The navies of the two countries have exchanged visits since 2010, and our armies and navies have also conducted several joint exercises and training. Exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries play an important role in deepening  mutual trust and effectively managing differences. Since last year, the defence ministers of the two countries have met three times and reached important consensus on the direction of the development of bilateral military relations. The two countries also held working meetings of the Defence Ministries in Canberra discussing further resuming specific exchange programs.

Defense and military ties are an important part of China-Australia relations. At present, China-Australia relations are at a critical juncture of stabilizing and improving. It is time for the two sides to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by our leaders, uphold the original aspiration of establishing diplomatic ties and stay on the right path to get along, so as to make steady, solid and long-term progress of China-Australia relations. It’s important for the two sides to respect each other's core interests, accommodate each other's major concerns, seek and build common ground through communication, enhance mutual trust, and manage differences in a constructive manner. China’s defense policy is open and transparent. China is ready to work with Australia to step up dialogue and communication at all levels and in all areas, maintain institutional exchanges such as the defence consultation, and foster new growth areas in bilateral cooperation, so as to continuously strengthen bilateral relations and make positive contributions to regional development and security.

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

As the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia is witnessing stabilization, improvement, consolidation and development, we hope and believe that defense and military tie between our two countries will also achieve positive progress.

Let me conclude by proposing a toast,

To the 96th anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Liberation Army,

To the further development of relations between our two countries and the two militaries,

To lasting peace and security in the region and the world,

Cheers!