Australian Consulate-General
Chengdu, China

Australian Consul-General’s Blog on Southwest China

 

Australian Consul-General’s Blog on Southwest China

Welcome to my blog on southwest China. 313 x 376

At the Australian Consulate-General in Chengdu, my staff and I are in a privileged position of building and strengthening ties between Australia and southwest China on a daily basis.  This region is increasingly important to Australia – it is growing very fast economically, has a healthy appetite for Australia’s exports, and more people from both sides are coming into contact with each other.  Yet, many people outside China, including Australians, know very little about southwest China. 

So the purpose of this blog is to raise the awareness of this region among Australians.  We often hear about how important China is to Australia economically, politically and strategically, and that this importance will only increase as our economies become more intertwined.  This being the case, it is more crucial than ever that we have a better understanding of the vastness and complexity of China.  Tackling any big items, it is best to start with bite size pieces, so it is from southwest China that this blog attempts to make sense of it, through Australian eyes. 

I will chronicle my impressions of southwest China through my visits to various parts of the region and my contact with local officials, scholars, businesspeople, students and Australians.  I hope to bring my perspective of this dynamic and captivating region directly to readers in Australia, and in a small way contribute to public understanding of China.  

I intend this blog to be informative and interesting.  It is not meant to be a policy discourse on Australia’s foreign and economic policy towards China, as all content is in line with Australian Government policy.  All material is sourced from public channels. 

I hope you enjoy reading what follows, and sharing our journey as we reach out to the provinces of southwest China. 

I welcome your comments on my blog. Please send them to [email protected].

 

Latest entries

54. Farewell my Chengdu, 18 December 2020
53. In Search of Shangri-La, 10 December 2020
52. Women in Leadership Refresh: Supporting women’s empowerment in Chengdu, 29 November 2020
51. Take-aways from Mental Health Week: Shedding the stigma in China, 12 November 2020
50. Chengdu: Gearing up to be Host City for World Sporting Events, 3 November 2020
49. "Don’t mention the war!" Avoiding cultural faux pas, 23 October 2020
48. Southwest China: mighty rivers run through it, 15 October 2020
47. Chengdu: Gateway to the Tibetan world, 12 October 2020
46. Third Front Construction: Secret factories in the mountains, 8 October 2020
45. Letting the cat out of the bag: the booming pet economy, 30 September 2020
44. Are we “crossing the river in the same boat” or are we just “in the same boat”? My favourite Chinese idioms, 16 September 2020
43. China’s Online Shopping Festivals, 25 August 2020
42. Yunnan food: hidden cornucopia, 2 July 2020 
41. Sojourners in the southwest: Quarantine readings (Part 2), 24 June 2020 
40. Sojourners in the southwest: Quarantine readings (Part 1), 18 June 2020 
39. Adjusting to the new normal: some reflections, 21 May 2020
38. Opportunities in times of crisis – the health sector, 20 May 2020
37. Mental health during the coronavirus outbreak – what I have learnt, 30 March 2020
36. Longing for home, 23 January 2020
35. A bookstore renaissance, 24 December 2019
34. Discovering another migrant society: Sichuan, 29 November 2019
33. Wulong – A serendipitous discovery, 30 October 2019 
32. Our Ambassadors: Building influence in the world, seeking opportunities for growth, and delivering for Australians, 30 September 2019
31. Coffee’s robust rise in China, 31 August 2019 
30 . Chengdu teahouse and the good life, 30 July 2019 
29 . Ganzi – lofty peaks, pure waters and earthy teas, 9 June 2019
28 . Sichuan cuisine – the soul of Sichuan, 15 April  2019 
27 . International Women’s Day in southwest China, 29 March 2019 
26. Growing Australian presence in Yunnan, 11 January 2019 
25. How to handle a formal meeting in China, 25 October 2018
24. Sichuan’s South: Xichang, Panzhihua, 19 October 2018
23. Sichuan's southeast: Leshan, Luzhou, Zigong, Yibin, 9 October 2018
22. Sichuan’s regional cities: The road increasingly travelled, 20 September 2018
21. Reflections on home: a trip back to Australia, 30 August 2018
20. China’s social media explosion: Not just WeChat anymore, 10 July 2018 
19. How I overcame my fear of WeChat, 26 June 2018
18. Wenshan: An Australian company making a difference, 16 May 2018
17. What do Chinese Millennials think of Australia? 23 April 2018  
16. Dawn of the Chinese Millennials, 26 March 2018
15. How to impress your Sichuan business partners with local trivia, 14 February 2018
14. Chengdu: the Gem of Southwest China, 19 January 2018
13. The Dish: not Just in Parkes but Also in Southwest China, 31 December 2017
12. Chongqing: Strong Educational Links With Australia, 15 December 2017
11. Chongqing: A Booming Mega City in the Interior, 5 December 2017
10. The Art of the Chinese Banquet, 23 November 2017
9. Role of Sister Cities in Building Relations in China, 18 October 2017
8. An Australian Legacy in Chongqing, 1 September 2017 
7. Shangri-La –  Real and Imagined, 10 August 2017
6. Yibin – Fiery Spirit, Remarkable History, 28 July 2017 
5. Rapid Change - Don't Blink, 12 July 2017 
4. The Setting - Lush Basin, High Mountains and Mighty Rivers, 17 June 2017  
3. Finding my way Around Southwest China - Through Australian Eyes, 7 April 2017 
2. A day in the Life of Australia's Consul-General in Chengdu, 27 March 2017  
1. Media Release: Consul-General in Chengdu, 7 November 2016