Her Excellency Ms. Quentin Bryce, AC Governor of Queensland
Hon. Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland
Hon. Mike Reynolds AM MP, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am honored and very happy to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival-the Chinese Lunar New Year together with you. Spring Festival is the most significant traditional festival for the Chinese people. It symbolizes the commencement of sowing in a new year. Today, we are celebrating the Spring Festival with immeasurable joy. We are also hoping that we could sow seeds of China-Queensland friendship in the new year, which will grow roots, sprout, blossom and yield fruits.
The year 2008 is a Year of Rat in Chinese calendar. If you were born in 1924,1936,1948,1960,1972,1984,1996 or 2008, please raise your hands. This is a lucky year for you. A person born in the Year of Rat is believed to be bright and clever. I wish you every success. If you become rich, don't forget to share with us.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In 2007, China made new progress. The people of China from different ethnic background continued to work shoulder to shoulder in building a well-off society. China's comprehensive national strength was further increased and so was people's living standard. The Chinese people engaged in better exchanges and cooperation with people of various nations, actively sought a proper settlement of various issues in the world's hot spots, and facilitated the building of a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity.
Last year, many great and happy events took place in China. Here, I would like to raise three examples:
Firstly, last October, the 17th National Conference of the Chinese Communist Party was held in Beijing. The conference emphasized that China will continue opening-up and engaging in peaceful development. China will continue to promote better and quicker development of its national economy and has put forward a goal to quadruple its per capita GDP by 2020 based on the figure of 2000. The concept of per capita GDP means that the goal of the national development will mainly focus on enabling ordinary people to get rich.
Secondly, on 24th October, China's first Lunar Probe Satellite-Chang'e-1 was successfully launched. It entered into the moon orbit and sent back three-dimensional images, marking the great success of China's first-stage lunar probe project.
Thirdly, in 2007, the Chinese Government removed tuition and miscellaneous school fees for primary and middle school students in rural areas. The children's smile was the smile of the year in China.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
2007 also marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between China and Australia. A series of celebration activities were staged in both countries. China-Australia relations experienced new and important progress. In early September, President Hu Jintao paid another state-visit to Australia. During his visit, the two countries announced to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism, made a joint statement on climate changes and energy issues, signed agreements and contracts in the fields of economy, trade, energy, judiciary, culture and etc. Bilateral beneficial and practical co-operations were lifted to a higher level. In the fiscal year of 2006-2007, China became the No.1 trade partner of Australia. The Chinese Government gave two pandas to Australian people as a gift, one by the name of WANGWANG, the other FUNI, and they will arrive in Australia this year.
With the support from the Queensland Government, people in all walks of life, Chinese and overseas Chinese, the China-Queensland's friendly and cooperative relations are developing rapidly. Therefore, the governments of China and Australia decided to upgrade the Consulate of China in Brisbane to the Consulate General. It was my honor to take the post as the 1st Consul General during the Spring Festival of last year. All the staff-members in the Consulate are working hard. The China-Queensland relations made progress in a broad range, including politics, economy, trade, education, technology, culture and tourism. In March, Deputy Premier ZENG Peiyan visited Queensland, and held a friendly and intensive talk with the then acting premier Anna Bligh on relations between China and Queensland. In December, Speaker of Queensland Mr. Reynolds visited China, promoting the communications between the two countries in the area of congress affairs. In the fiscal year of 2006-2007, the trade volume of China-Queensland reached 5.7 billion Australian dollars, China is the 2nd trade partner of Queensland. The Aurukun project that is carried out by CHALCO is proceeding smoothly, and it has entered the stage of feasible study. The two power plants, in which China Huaneng Group invested 300 million Australian dollars, contribute to 20% of Queensland's electricity supplies. Nowadays, 16,000 Chinese oversea students including those from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and mainland study in Queensland. China has become the biggest source of foreign students for Queensland. The University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology signed an agreement or raised a proposal to Hanban (the Office of Chinese Language Council International) respectively, and two Confucius Institutes will be established in Brisbane, which will further facilitate Chinese language education and China-Australia cultural exchanges. Now more and more Australians speak Chinese. From September 2006 to September 2007, around 154,000 Chinese tourists visited Queensland. The tourism market from China maintained a strong momentum. China Eastern also started direct flights between Shanghai and Brisbane. In 2007, 31900 Queenslanders applied for visas to China ? an increase of 26% over 2006. Also in last year, we established an economic and trade section in the Consulate General, which specializes in China-Queensland business activities. In order to improve the quality of consular service, we have set up an automatic telephone answering system, and made available credit card payment for consular fees.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In 2008, the China-Queensland relations will greet new opportunities of development. We will continue to make every effort to facilitate communications and co-operations in all fields between China and Queensland, deepen friendship, and bring bilateral relations to a new stage. In this year, some big companies from China and Queensland are considering or proposing to enhance cooperation. China Eastern Airline is thinking of changing seasonal flights to annual flights. China Southern Airline is planning to operate direct flights from Brisbane to Guangzhou. The Honorable Premier Anna Bligh will visit China this year, which will further facilitate the comprehensive development of China-Queensland relations. A few days ago, I was pleased to know that 150 Chinese pilot students will undertake training courses in Queensland, and over 20 Chinese scholars or staff in the medical field of disease control and prevention will study and take exchange courses in Griffith University. These interactions and co-operations will further widen our cooperation field and strengthen ties for China-Queensland relations.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Through many years, Chinese and overseas Chinese in Queensland have been working perseveringly, adhering to the law, living harmoniously with the local communities. Among them are politicians, scientists, scholars, teachers, doctors, lawyers, business people, artists and etc. They are active in all walks of life in Queensland, promoting Chinese culture, and making important contributions to the development of Queensland's multicultural society. Chinese and overseas Chinese in Queensland are the natural ties between China and Queensland. They are playing a significant role in the development of bilateral relations.
"On festive occasions more than ever one thinks of one's dear ones far away." When families in China are reunited for the festival, we are always thinking of Taiwanese compatriots on the other side of the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese Government will adhere to the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems". Never will the Chinese Government waver in our commitment to the one-China principle, abandon our efforts to achieve peaceful reunification, change the policy of placing hope on the people in Taiwan, or compromise in our opposition to any secessionist activities aiming at "Taiwan Independence". We will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any name or by any means. I believe that with close solidarity and concerted efforts of all Chinese people at home and overseas, the reunification of the motherland will surely be achieved.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Brisbane, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your kind and consistent support. I am looking forward to your continuing support in the future. If you are satisfied with our service, please tell your friends and people around you; but if you are not happy with our work, please let me know.
On the 8th August 2008 at 8pm, the 29th Olympic Games will be held in Beijing. Athletes from China and Australia will show their outstanding performances on competition grounds in Beijing. Let's congratulate them in advance on their success.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On the occasion of the Chinese lunar New Year and the anniversary of our Consulate General, may I propose a toast
To the happiness and health of the distinguished guests present
To the friendship between China and Queensland
To our brighter future
Cheers.
Thank you and happy Chinese Spring Festival!
