Take the Past as a Guide to the Future and Write a New Chapter in China-Australia Relations

Speech by HE Ambassador Chen Yuming at the China-Australia Futures Dialogues

2012/04/02

(Brisbane, 2 April 2012)

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I'm very delighted to join you at the annual Leader's Lecture of the China-Australia Futures Dialogues.

I wish to thank Peking University and Griffith University for their kind invitation and thoughtful arrangements.

 

Since this is a futures dialogue, future will be the key word of my speech.

The name "Futures Dialogues" sounds to me like a 3D science-fiction film. I hope we will not talk like aliens.

Just a joke.

I believe we have to look back before we look to the future.

 

This year marks the 40^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia.

For four decades, our two countries have journeyed together through thick and thin and made remarkable progress in cooperation in a wide range of areas.

Bilateral relations are reaching a mature stage of stable and sound development, and have taken on the following features:

 

Strategic content of our relations has grown significantly.

We have regular and dynamic exchanges at top and other levels and between legislatures, political parties, militaries and local governments.

We have enriched bilateral consultation mechanisms such as strategic dialogue, defense consultation and high-level economic dialogue.

We see each other as a partner for comprehensive cooperation and have maintained effective communication and cooperation on regional and international issues, and deepened political mutual trust.

 

The convergence of our interests has further expanded.

Our two-way trade volume topped 100 billion US dollars in 2011, 1,000 times that of 40 years ago.

China has become Australia's No.1 trading partner, export market and source of imports.

Mutual investment has been growing steadily, with nearly 60 billion dollars of Chinese investment approved in Australia in the past five years.

As a matter of fact, our economies have become so closely linked that we can not grow without each other.

 

Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are gaining momentum.

China is now Australia's fastest growing source of overseas visitors and largest source of international students.

Exchanges at the local level have strengthened, with each state and territory in Australia having more than one sister province or city in China.

Geographical distance between our peoples is cut short as more cities are linked by direct flights.

We have successfully held reciprocal "cultural years", and opened 11 Confucius Institutes in Australia.

The cooperation between Peking University and Griffith University, in which we are involved, is another good example of growing people-to-people exchanges.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

If you ask me what conclusions we can draw from the past 40 years to guide our future relations, my answer lies in the key word of our dialogue today "FUTURE".

 

"F" stands for farsightedness.

To grow China-Australia relations, we have to have a long-term vision.

Forty years ago, with great vision and foresight, the then Australian Prime Minster Gough Whitlam and Chinese leadership normalized bilateral relations.

Forty years on, in the globalized world today, we are more inter-connected than ever.

Only by taking a strategic vision and bearing in mind the fundamental interests of the people, can we keep our relations in the right direction.

No matter how we describe our relationship, it has a strategic significance beyond doubt.

 

"U" for Universality.

To grow our relations, we have to have a global perspective.

Both China and Australia are important countries in the Asia-Pacific. Our relations have an impact far beyond bilateral context.

There is a realistic need for us to consult and cooperate more closely on regional issues, and work together to tackle global challenges like financial crisis and climate change and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond.

 

"T" for Trust.

To grow our relations, we have to have mutual trust and mutual respect.

China and Australia have different histories, cultures, social systems and levels of development.

An important reason that we have sustained growth of relations for 40 years is that we have treated each other as equals, respected each other's core interests and major concerns, and increased mutual understanding and mutual trust through dialogue and cooperation.

 

"U" for Utmost.

To grow our relations, we have to tap into our potential to the utmost.

In the past 40 years, we have made most of our complementary advantages in industrial structure, natural resources and scientific research, and conducted mutually beneficial cooperation in many areas, which has given our relations the breadth and depth we have today.

We need to do our utmost to seize the huge opportunities brought by China's development and economic restructuring and create new space for cooperation.

 

"R" for Reciprocity.

To grow our relations, we have to remain committed to win-win cooperation.

Export to and investment from China have generated income of 10,000 dollars per Australian household each year, and created tens of thousands of jobs.

Meanwhile, imports of iron ore, coal and LNG from Australia have played a big role in China's urbanization drive.

Australian made dairy products and wines are increasingly popular among Chinese consumers.

China is implementing its 12^th Five-Year Plan in all aspects. Transformation of growth patter and economic restructuring are gathering pace, and China is likely to become the largest consumer market in the world.

China's development is not only good for itself, but also brings vast opportunities for Australia, the rest of the Asia-Pacific and the world.

We are committed to win-win cooperation and common development. This is the driving force behind our ever growing cooperation. 

 

"E" for Exchanges.

People-to-people exchanges are an important part of our relations.

As the Chinese saying goes, "The key to sound relations
between states lies in amity between the people, and the key to amity between the people lies in heart-to-heart exchanges."

When cooperation in culture, education and tourism is deepened, more bridges of communication are built, and our people's joint desire to know each other better is met.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

Mr Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, once wrote, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past".

I share his optimism.

As China-Australia diplomatic relations turn 40, we have come to a historic point to review the past and plan for a better future.

Let us shape the future by learning from the past and work together to break new grounds.

I am confident with joint effort, we will write another brilliant chapter of China-Australia relations in the next 40 years.

Thank you.