The 8th China-Australia High-Level Dialogue was held in Adelaide
2024-08-17
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China News Service, Adelaide, August 16 (Reporter Gu Shihong) The eighth meeting of the China-Australia High-Level Dialogue, co-organized by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Australia-China Relations National Foundation, was held in Adelaide, Australia on the 16th.
On August 16, local time, the 8th China-Australia High-Level Dialogue, co-organized by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the Australia-China Relations National Foundation, was held in Adelaide. Photo by Gu Shihong, a reporter from China News Service
18 representatives attended the meeting, including Wang Chao, executive head of the Chinese delegation and president of the China Institute of Diplomacy, Xiao Qian, Chinese ambassador to Australia, Qiu Yuanping, former executive deputy director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office, and Cui Tiankai, advisor to the board of directors of the China Institute of Diplomacy and former vice foreign minister.
As the executive head of the delegation, Wang Chao read the opening speech of Li Zhaoxing, head of the Chinese delegation and honorary president of the Chinese Institute of Diplomacy. Li Zhaoxing said in his speech that over the past year or so, under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, China-Australia relations have returned to the right track and are showing a positive development momentum, and the China-Australia high-level dialogue mechanism has also played a positive role in this regard.
Regarding China-Australia relations, Li Zhaoxing believes that, first of all, the most basic consensus between China and Australia is "being partners". There are many common interests between China and Australia, and of course there are many consensuses. The most basic one is that the two sides are not opponents or enemies, but friends and partners. Over the past 50 years, China-Australia relations have been at the forefront of China's relations with Western developed countries most of the time, bringing huge benefits to the people of both countries. The trade volume of goods between China and Australia has increased from 113 million Australian dollars in 1972 to more than 300 billion Australian dollars last year, and the number of Chinese students in Australia has increased from 5 in 1973 to nearly 190,000 today. Australia has maintained a trade surplus with China for more than 20 consecutive years.
Secondly, the most important difference between China and Australia to bridge is the "view of China". The differences between China and Australia stem from the different historical cultures, political systems and development stages of the two countries. Among various differences and disagreements, the most critical one is that Australia's "view of China" is different from the real China. What we want to do most is to manage our own affairs well, rather than interfere in the affairs of others. China will resolutely defend its sovereignty, security and development interests. On these issues, it is a basic requirement for both sides to properly handle differences, but this is not enough, because only by transcending differences can we truly avoid letting differences define the relationship between the two countries.
Thirdly, external factors should not become a problem between China and Australia. The world will eventually move towards multipolarization and globalization. We hope that Australia will stand on the right side of history, adhere to multilateralism, adhere to trade liberalization, oppose group politics, avoid taking sides, and join the majority of countries in the international community in opposing the new Cold War and making greater contributions to world peace and development.
The meeting was attended by 20 people, including head of the Australian delegation and former Trade Minister Craig Emerson, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and former Ambassador to China Adam Janssen, Australian Ambassador to China Jennifer Gisted, and Chancellor of the Australian National University and former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
At the luncheon held that day, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivered a luncheon speech. She said that holding this dialogue is another step to stabilize Australia-China relations, and maintaining a stable relationship with China is not only in the interests of Australia, but also in the interests of both countries. (End)
