On 6 February, China Chamber of Commerce in Australia (CCCA) Adelaide Branch and Australia China Business Council (ACBC) SA Branch co-hosted a Chinese New Year Gala Dinner at the National Wine Centre of Australia. Consul-General HE Lanjing attended and delivered a speech. Minister for Trade and Investment Mr. David Ridgway, Shadow Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Ms. Zoe Bettison, Vice President of the ACBC and President of the ACBC SA Branch Mr. Sean Keenihan, members of the above two chambers, representatives from the political, business and local Chinese communities, totalling over 250 guests attended the celebration.

In her speech, Consul-General HE said that a sound and steady development of China-Australia relations fully serves the common interests of the two countries. Over the past year, we have achieved fruitful results in the exchanges and cooperation in various fields like the economy and trade between China and South Australia. China still remained the largest trading partner, largest export destination, largest source of imports and the top market for international students for South Australia. The State welcomed 66,000 visits and nearly 20,000 students from China last year, which both outnumbered other countries and are still on the rise. In 2018-2019 fiscal year, South Australia’s trade with China continued to grow, up by 18% to 5.04 billion AU dollars. South Australia has also received a cumulative investment of 2.05 billion US dollars from the Chinese enterprises so far. These highlights have fuelled the sustained economic growth of both sides and generated tangible benefits for the two peoples. We welcome Australia to share the opportunities presented by China’s reform and opening-up. We also hope Australia will adopt an open and inclusive approach, and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for the Chinese enterprises. The business community is a key driving force, as well as a direct participant and beneficiary of the development of the bilateral relations. It is hoped that it will play a bigger role in promoting China-Australia relationship and the practical cooperation.

Consul-General HE also introduced the latest situation of China’s fight against the novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak. She emphasised that President XI Jinping is personally overseeing and guiding the response to the epidemic and the Chinese government has taken a series of unprecedented and strong measures to curb the spread. At the same time, China has timely released relevant information and strengthened international cooperation in an open, transparent, and responsible manner. We firmly believe, under the strong leadership of the Chinese government and with the support from the international community including Australia, we are fully capable and confident to win this battle against the epidemic.

Minister Ridgway expressed his thanks to Consul-General HE for her commitment to the friendly relations and the exchanges and cooperation of all aspects between South Australia and China. He said the State Government values its relationship with China - the largest trading partner for South Australia, while its Trade and Investment Office in Shanghai is supporting their overall business engagement. The two-way trade last year reached a new high. He pointed out that the Chinese Consulate-General, Chinese enterprises and Chinese community had provided generous support and help after bushfires in South Australia. The Australian side highly appreciates China’s extraordinary anti-epidemic efforts and is confident that China will defeat the outbreak. South Australia will stand firmly with the Chinese people during this difficult time.

Mr. Keenihan said this was the first time that the two chambers of commerce celebrated the Chinese New Year together. It clearly demonstrated the close relationship between them and the further progress they have achieved in the practical cooperation between China and South Australia. The ACBC will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with China in its ongoing combat against the novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic.