Australian Consulate-General
Chengdu, China

Consul-General's speech at Australia Day Reception, Chengdu, 24 January 2018 总领事在澳大利亚国庆招待会上的讲话,成都,2018年1月24日

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

各位来宾

女士们,先生们

晚上好!

 

My first year as Australian Consul-General in Chengdu has taken me from the dynamic R&D hubs of Chengdu’s Hi-tech Zone, to the soaring peaks of Yading, from Leshan’s awe-inspiring Giant Buddha to the bustling port of Luzhou.  And to many other places in between. Each of these destinations has been unforgettable.  But most importantly, each has had deep connections with Australia.

一转眼,我到任已经整整一年了。在这一年里,我目睹了成都创新发展的快速步伐,登上了稻城亚丁的千米高峰,游览了令人敬畏的乐山大佛,也看到了繁忙热闹的 泸州港。我还去过很多很多别的地方,每一个地方都令人难以忘怀。更重要的是,每一个地方跟澳大利亚都有着深厚的友谊。

 

It has been a journey that’s shown just how far our relationship has come.

一路走来,我看到了中澳友谊的源远流长。

 

*****

In 1972 – the year that Australia and China established diplomatic relations – Australia’s relationship with China was in its infancy. Two-way trade stood at $113 million.  We had no student exchanges and certainly no Chinese tourists in Australia.

1972年,中国和澳大利亚正式建交。那时候,双边贸易额仅有1.13亿澳元。我们没有中国留学生,也没有中国游客。

 

From the first tentative steps in 1972 to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of today, the links between our countries over these 45 years have blossomed.

从1972年建交,到现在的全面战略合作伙伴,过去45年里,中澳友谊之花 竞相绽放。

 

In 2016, our trading relationship was valued at $155 billion and statistics from China Customs suggest annual growth in trade in the order of 20 per cent last year. China is now Australia’s largest source of international students, with 157,000 Chinese choosing an Australian education in 2016. More than 1.2 million Chinese tourists graced our shores that same years. The Australia-China relationship now is broad and sophisticated, underpinned by economic complementarity, extensive education links, growing people flows and cooperation on international issues of shared concern.

2016年,双边贸易额达到1550亿澳元。中国海关的官方数据显示,去年中澳双边贸易额增长了20%。中国也是澳大利亚最大的留学生来源国,根据2016年的数据,澳大利亚有15.7万中国留学生。同年,我们还接待了120多万中国游客。他们遍访澳大利亚的各大地标,当然也包括悉尼歌剧院。经贸往来、教育合作、民间交流以及对国际问题的共同关注,构建起今天全面 而广泛的中澳关系。

 

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement is facilitating business partnerships and allowing consumers greater access to the products and services we offer each other.

中澳自由贸易协定让两国人民广泛获益,我们建立了更紧密的贸易关系,也进一步促进了两国产品和服务的流动。

 

At the highest levels of government, our leaders have close relationships.

在政府最高层面,两国领导人保持着紧密的双边关系。

 

Prime Minister Turnbull has visited China three times in the past two years and most Australian state premiers have also visited.

特恩布尔总理过去两年里曾三次访华。此外,澳大利亚大多数州长也来过中国。

 

China’s most senior leaders have a deep familiarity with Australia.  President Xi is the only world leader today to have visited every Australian state and territory.  All seven members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee have visited Australia in an official capacity, some of them several times. 

中国的领导人非常了解澳大利亚。习主席是世界上唯一访遍澳大利亚的国家领袖。政治局七大常委也都曾对澳大利亚进行过正式访问,其中部分常委还曾多次访问澳大利亚。

 

*****

In the five years since the establishment of the Australian Consulate-General in Chengdu – and in close cooperation with government, business, education and cultural contacts in Sichuan – we have seen our links go from strength-to-strength.

今年是澳大利亚驻成都总领事馆建馆5周年。在过去的5年里,我们在政府、企业、教育和文化领域与四川各界建立了紧密的合作关系。

 

This past year, we have welcomed rapid expansion of two-way investment in the fields of health and medical technology, with market leaders such as Heng Kang Group and Australia’s Cochlear forging new partnerships.

去年,双边医疗技术领域的投资迎来了快速发展,恒康医疗、科利尔公司等都找到了新的合作伙伴。

 

As we celebrated the Australia-China Year of Tourism in 2017, we proudly took up the role as country of honour at the Sichuan International Travel Expo in Sichuan, showcasing Australia’s unmatched destinations and clean, green products.

2017年是中澳旅游年,我们很自豪成为四川国际旅游博览会的主宾国,展示 澳大利亚的美食美景。

 

We connected Australia’s entrepreneurial start-ups with business and investment partners in Chengdu – now one of China’s leading innovation hubs.

成都是中国的创新之都,我们为澳大利亚的创业者和成都的商业投资伙伴搭建起了对话的桥梁。

 

The Australian Chamber of Commerce West China doubled its membership in 2017, reflecting strong growth in our trade and investment relationship.  There are more exciting times ahead for the chamber in 2018 under the leadership of new chair Richard Murphy.

2017年,澳大利亚商会华西分会 的会员数翻了一倍,这是我们贸易投资关系 快速发展的体现。我相信,在新会长Richard Murphy的带领下,2018年对商会来说,又是一个 精彩的年头。

 

*****

Ladies and gentlemen, the Australia-China relationship at 45 is strong and resilient.

女士们,先生们,45周年的中澳关系是牢固的,经得住考验的。

 

It is, after all, about the personal friendships forged by tens of thousands of people over many decades.

归根结底,它关乎数万人几十年来建立起来的友谊。

 

That is why the Australian Government has sought to highlight unsung heroes through our “45 years, 45 stories” campaign – exhibited just outside the ballroom this evening.

所以,澳大利亚政府发起了“45周年、45个故事”的活动,以此来歌颂中澳关系中的无名英雄。今晚宴会厅门口就展示了部分感人的故事。

 

Many of these stories have links to Sichuan, including that of Professor Li Hong from Huaxi Hospital – who has worked hand-in-hand with Australian nobel laureate Barry Marshall on ground-breaking research on infectious diseases.

很多故事与四川有关,其中包括来自华西医院的李红博士。他与澳大利亚诺贝尔奖得主 Barry Marshall合作,对传染性疾病的防治进行了突破性的研究。李红博士今天也在现场。

 

The inspiring story of Professor Li, and others profiled in the exhibition, speak to the breadth and depth of the friendship between our countries.

他的故事,以及今天展出的其它故事,讲述了中澳两国之间深厚绵长的友谊。

 

*****

Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we farewell a colleague well known to many of you.  Mr Jeff Turner has made a tremendous contribution to Australia’s relationship with southwest China during his term as Trade Commissioner.  Succeeding Mr Turner will be Mr Tim White, who has been Deputy Consul-General for the past two years and a professional of the highest calibre.  While I am sad to lose him as a deputy, I am excited to work with him as Trade Commissioner to strengthen Australia’s trade and investment links with southwest China.

女士们,先生们,今晚我们要送别一位好朋友,唐杰夫先生。他在担任澳大利亚驻成都贸易专员的几年里,为澳大利亚和西南地区的交往做出了极大的贡献。他的继任者是一位非常优秀、非常有职业素养的人,他就是我们的副总领事白天伟先生。虽然我舍不得他离任,但我同样期待与他在新的岗位上,携手同进,共同推动澳大利亚与西南地区的经贸投资关系。

 

We also welcome a new colleague, incoming Deputy Consul General Tony Walter, who comes to us with a wealth of experience on China following postings in Beijing and Guangzhou.

我们还要欢迎一位新朋友,新任副总领事王东林先生,他是一位在北京和广州 使领馆工作过的“中国通”。

 

I am immensely proud to lead a talented and committed Team Australia in southwest China.

我很 骄傲,能带领这样优秀、敬业的澳大利亚团队推动与西南地区的友好交流。


Of course, an event such as this would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors, so please allow me to thank the following companies: Haitian Lanterns, Aohua Interactive, Luzhou Laojiao, Morish Wines, Ozdragon, Gemtree, Jingong Wines, Air China and Iniecho restaurant.

当然,今天的活动离不开我们的赞助商朋友。借此机会,我要感谢:四川华灯和自贡海天彩灯、澳范儿、泸州老窖希拉谷、 成都慕琳思、重庆澳蛟、宝石树酒庄、金觥实业、中国航空和念飨餐厅。

 

I look forward to working with you to forge an even closer and more prosperous partnership in the year ahead.

我期待着,新的一年,我们与西南地区的友谊能更上一层楼。

 

Thank you.

谢谢大家。