Distinguished Guests,

On the occasion of the grand opening of the China-Australia Innovation Forum, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the Forum.

As a Chinese saying goes, “No mountain or ocean can distance people who have shared aspirations.” The peoples of China and Australia have long enjoyed a deep friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, our bilateral ties have generally maintained stability and momentum, with ever-deepening exchanges and cooperation across various fields. Notable initiatives such as the China-Australia Torch Innovation Precinct have brought tangible benefits to our peoples and contributed to regional and global prosperity and stability. Last year marked the 10th anniversary of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Under the guidance of our leaders, bilateral relations have achieved a comprehensive turnaround. Institutional dialogues across multiple sectors have resumed, subnational and people-to-people exchanges have grown more vibrant, and the bilateral relationship is demonstrating strong resilience and promising prospects.

Today, the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, bringing both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, a new wave of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is reshaping the global development landscape at an accelerated pace. On the other hand, regional conflicts and turmoil frequently erupt, and global challenges such as climate change and public health threats continue to be salient problems. In addressing these shared challenges, the international community needs close cooperation and openness more than ever. China pursues a mutually beneficial strategy, and strives to create new  opportunities for the world with its own development and to contribute its share to the economic globalization that delivers greater benefits to all peoples. 

In response to global change, we must earnestly implement the strategic consensus reached by our two leaders, and work together in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit to further deepen science and technology cooperation and promote steady growth of China-Australia relations. In this regard, I would like to put forward three proposals:

First, broaden areas of cooperation and jointly build collaborative platforms. Science, technology and innovation cooperation is a key pillar of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both sides should uphold the principles of pragmatism, openness, and mutual benefit, strengthen the alignment of our development strategies, and expand cooperation in areas such as green and low-carbon development, healthcare, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence. We must make full use of intergovernmental mechanisms for science and technology cooperation and leverage platforms such as China-Australia Innovation Forum to jointly foster new growth drivers for bilateral cooperation.

Second, promote people-to-people exchanges and strengthen the social foundation of bilateral relations. The foundation of China-Australia relations lies in our societies, and the vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. We must remain committed to enhancing two-way exchanges. We warmly welcome more local governments, universities, scientists, and enterprises from Australia to visit and engage with their counterparts in China. We encourage young people from both countries to connect, build friendships, and carry out practical cooperation in the fields of scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, injecting sustained momentum into the long-term development of China-Australia relations.

Third, work together to tackle global challenges and contribute wisdom and solutions to global development. In the face of pressing global issues such as climate change, energy shortages, food security, and public health threats, we must strengthen international collaboration and seek answers through scientific and technological innovation. China has proposed the International Science and Technology Cooperation Initiative and Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science. We stand ready to work with Australia to deepen cooperation in areas of mutual concern and international mega-science programs, and contribute to the well-being of our two peoples and the global community.

The China-Australia Innovation Forum serves as a bridge connecting our research institutions, industries, and markets. By bringing together diverse organizations from industry, academia, and research, it provides a valuable platform for policy dialogue, project showcases, personnel exchanges, and industrial cooperation. There is no doubt this forum will play a crucial role in transforming scientific achievements into commercial outcomes and productivity gains for both countries. I hope that all participants will seize this opportunity to exchange ideas and pool wisdom for pursuing shared development, and drive more R&D projects to fruition and accelerate the translation of technological outcomes into real-world applications, thereby contributing significantly to deeper China-Australia scientific cooperation and economic development.

I wish the Forum a full success!

Xiao Qian

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Australia

July 9, 2025