On September 29, the Consulate-General of China in Adelaide hosted a reception celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Speaker of the House of Assembly of South Australia Nat Cook, Australian Federal MP Claire Clutterham, as well as approximately 250 guests including South Australia’s political, business and academic communities representatives, primary, secondary and university students, young people from different industries, members of the consular corps, representatives of Chinese community,institutions, students, Chinese-language teachers, and workers attended the event. Deputy Consul- General Chen Gang MCed the event.

The event opened with the resounding national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. Acting Consul-General Wang Hongsun delivered a speech, extending warm congratulations on the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China!

Acting Consul-General Wang said that over the 77 years since the founding of the PRC, the Communist Party of China has led the Chinese people in achieving brilliant accomplishments that will go down in history. The Chinese nation has moved from the brink of peril to great rejuvenation. As the world’s second-largest economy, largest manufacturing power and a leading power in the artificial intelligence industry, China has demonstrated with indisputable facts that the path of Chinese modernization suits China’s national conditions and can achieve great success! Today’s China is an important engine of the global economy, with green energy and artificial intelligence leading the vigorous development of a new industrial revolution and becoming the most distinctive hallmark of Chinese modernization, providing China with the key to unlocking the future.

Acting Consul-General Wang said that this year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, China will remain firmly committed to safeguarding national unity and pursuing peaceful development, and continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. This year, the four Global Initiatives proposed by China were included in a United Nations Human Rights Council report for the first time, marking further progress in translating China’s overarching vision of a community with a shared future for humanity into a broad consensus in the international community, and playing a substantive leading role in shaping a new, fairer and more inclusive global order for human rights and governance. China, with the right direction, steady progress, rapid development and clear expectations, is an important force for peace, stability and justice in today’s world, and can bring tremendous opportunities for the development of countries around the world, including Australia.

Acting Consul-General Wang said that China is committed to developing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia. Since the beginning of this year, exchanges and cooperation between China and South Australia have continued to deepen, with China maintaining its position as South Australia’s largest trading partner. The two sides have also engaged in active interactions in other fields, particularly people-to-people and cultural exchanges. Best wishes for a happy birthday to the giant panda Xingqiu, who celebrated his 6th birthday today at the Adelaide Zoo, and Yilan, who just celebrated her 5th birthday! Wangwang and Funi, the giant pandas who lived in Adelaide for 15 years, are doing well after returning to China and are enjoying their later years in a comfortable environment. Thanks to Australian Prime Minister Albanese for visiting them during his trip to Sichuan.

Acting Consul-General Wang said that next year will mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, which will be a new milestone in the development of bilateral relations. He expressed the hope that China and South Australia will continue to deepen all-round cooperation, constantly enhance mutual understanding and recognition, benefit the people of both places, and help China-Australia relations move forward steadily and sustainably.

To further enhance mutual understanding, the reception invited many new friends, including representatives of the Adelaide University team member who recently traveled to China to participate in the first China-Australia Youth (University Students) Rowing and Dragon Boat Friendship Tournament and achieved excellent results, representatives of primary and secondary school students who performed well in South Australia “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition, young representatives from different industries who had just returned from  visits to China, as well as local primary and secondary school students and their parents. Three student representatives from university, secondary school and primary school in South Australia took the stage to speak, enthusiastically sharing their experiences and reflections from participating in China-Australia youth exchanges and personally experiencing Chinese culture, drawing an enthusiastic response from the guests.

The reception venue was simply and elegantly decorated, with a cheerful and lively atmosphere. A short documentary introducing China’s development and construction achievements and Chinese culture was screened, while local young people performed a choral rendition of “Galaxy of a Flourishing Era” and a guzheng solo, winning rounds of applause.

Speaker Nat Cook and Federal MP Claire Clutterham listened with great interest to the voices of young people from South Australia and spoke highly of the prominent youth element of the reception, saying that the lovely children and giant pandas were especially touching, and that such youth diplomacy was truly wonderful! They must visit China and experience China for themselves! Guests from all sectors praised the economic and social development achievements of China over the past 77 years and wished for China-Australia friendship and practical cooperation between China and South Australia to reach new heights.