Your Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le, Governor of South Australia,
The Hon. Steven Marshall MP, Premier of South Australia,
Members of Parliament, City Councillors,
Consular Corps colleagues,
Representatives from Chinese communities, enterprises and students in South Australia,
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Good evening!
Welcome to the 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year Gala Dinner and my Official Welcome co-hosted by the Chinese Consulate-General in Adelaide and the South Australian Government. I also feel very happy and honoured to be co-hosting this dinner with the Premier.
Tonight, we are brought together to farewell the old year and celebrate the incoming new one. The Spring Festival is the most valued traditional festival for Chinese people. It means family reunion and reflects people yearning for a happy life and wishing for a better future. On behalf of the Consulate-General of China in Adelaide, I would like to extend my sincere festive greetings and best wishes to all distinguished guests here and, through you, to all local Chinese, Chinese enterprises, Chinese students, as well as all dear friends in South Australia, wish you all a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year!
I would also like to express my gratitude for this official welcome, and for the generous long-time support the South Australian Government has given to our Consulate-General. At this special season, my husband and I are honoured to come to Adelaide, the beautiful capital city of South Australia. In the past month, through extensive contacts with local communities, I have deeply felt the friendliness of local governments and people towards China, and have been deeply impressed by their high expectations and bright visions of further relations with China. This positive atmosphere has fueled my confidence in fulfilling my duties.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Both China and Australia are important countries in the Asia Pacific region, and important partners to each other. More than 46 years on, China-Australia relations have come a long way. The breadth and the depth of our cooperation have reached an unprecedented level. A sound and steady development of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of people on both sides, as well as regional and world peace, stability and prosperity. Based on equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, China is willing to further its ties with Australia and bring more benefits to both peoples.
The relationship between China and South Australia is an integral part of the China-Australia relationship. South Australia has clear advantages in agriculture, education, science and technology, tourism and other fields. In recent years, the two sides have achieved remarkable¡¡results in the exchanges and cooperation in various areas like the economy and trade, education, science and technology, culture and tourism. China has remained the largest trading partner, largest export destination, largest source of imports and the top market for international students for South Australia for many consecutive years. Local Chinese have played an important role in promoting economic and social development, the multicultural prosperity of Australia, and exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and two peoples. The South Australian Government highly values its relations with China. Premier Marshall traveled to Shanghai as his first overseas visit after taking office. Minister Ridgway headed a delegation to the first China International Import Expo. The Adelaide Branch of the China Chamber of Commerce in Australia was established. South Australia's new Trade and Investment Office in Shanghai was opened. The Adelaide Chinese Visa Application Service Centre operates well. The Mutual Benefit Economic Office of Shandong and South Australia will be officially launched in no time. All these will inject new impetus into deepening friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between China and South Australia.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Late last year, China held a grand meeting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the country's reform and opening-up. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the meeting. The reform and opening-up is a great revolution in the history of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. It is also a great journey of China strengthening cooperation with other countries towards win-win outcomes. Over the past four decades, through the unremitting efforts of all Chinese people across the country, China's share of global GDP has risen from 1.8 percent to 15.2 percent, generating more than 30 percent of global growth for years. Now China is the world's second largest economy, the biggest manufacturer, top trader of goods, and the second largest consumer of goods and recipient of foreign investment, as well as the holder of the largest foreign exchange reserves. China's middle-income population has already hit 300 million. China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world, and the world needs China for global prosperity. China will stay committed to reform and opening-up and promote joint efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. In 2019, we will organize the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and the second China International Import Expo. The world will see a more open China, and we believe it will create greater opportunities for the development of all the countries, including Australia, in the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
As Consul-General, I will work with my colleagues and all those who care for and support the friendship between China and South Australia, to expand and deepen our economic cooperation, cultural contact, as well as local and civil exchanges. We will also be dedicated to making more contributions to the friendly relations between China and Australia. And as always, we are committed to doing our best to provide quality consular services to local Chinese, Chinese enterprises and overseas students, to implement the principle of people-oriented diplomacy.
Based on the Chinese lunar calendar, 2019 is the year of the pig. In Chinese traditional culture, the pig is a symbol of wealth and good fortune. On this auspicious occasion, I wish all distinguished guests happiness, good health, thriving career and all the best in the year of the pig.
At last, please all join me in a toast,
To the friendship between China and Australia,
To the friendship between China and South Australia,
Cheers!