On 28 August, Acting Consul-General Wang Hongsun attended the launch ceremony for the 2026 Australian-China Winemaker Program, held at the Penfolds Magill Estate of Treasury Wine Estates. Federal MP Claire Clutterham, Chairperson of the Australian Grape and Wine Inc Helen Strachan, and its Chief Executive Officer Lee McLean, Chief Supply and Sustainability Officer of Treasury Wine Estates  Kerrin Petty, representatives of young winemakers and over 40 guests from various sectors attended the event.

Acting Consul-General Wang engaged in cordial exchanges with the guests and the Australian winemakers who were due to travel to China for the program. He spoke highly of the program’s contribution to promoting economic, trade and cultural exchanges and collaboration between China and Australia, stressing that it not only provides a practical platform for technical innovation and talent development on both sides, but also has  become an important channel for enhancing industrial and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Acting Consul-General Wang said that China remains committed to high-quality development and is advancing development across all regions and sectors in accordance with the blueprint of the 15th Five-Year Plan, presenting renewed progress each year. In its foreign relations, China actively puts forward initiatives on global governance with distinct Chinese characteristics. The China–Australia relations shows bright future. He expressed the hope that the winemakers would use wine as a medium to delve into relevant Chinese wine-producing regions for technical discussions and immersive experiences, savour China’s long history and culture, gain first-hand insight into the Chinese people’s way of life, and deepen their authentic and profound understanding of China, thereby contributing to the coordinated development of relevant industries between the two countries and deepening mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.