Australian Ambassador to China Jan Adams:Chongqing Has Witnessed the Friendship between China and Australia

□ Article,Pictures/Journalist Xiong Yi Probationary Journalist Liu Dingrui Tr. by Chen Yupeng

Australian Ambassador to China Jan Adams:Chongqing Has Witnessed the Friendship between China and Australia

□ Article,Pictures/Journalist Xiong Yi Probationary Journalist Liu Dingrui Tr. by Chen Yupeng

45 Years, 45 Stories

“Chongqing is an important trade center of inland China with remarkable skylines, world-class industrial manufacture and advanced infrastructure,which must have impressed Australian diplomats who had been here before”, said MS Jan Adams during the Celebration of 45 years of Australia-China Diplomatic Relations held in Eling Park,where the Australian Legation was housed.Presided by Australian Consul-General in Chengdu Christopher Lim, the celebration in Chongqing is the first one of a series of events to be held in China by Australian embassies and consulates in China.Deputy Director General of Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government Wang Wen also attended the celebration.

“The Australian legation who came to China in 1941 observed Chongqing from exactly where we are standing right now, but they couldn’t have seen what we are seeing today. 70 years later, Chongqing has already become a symbol of the rapidly developing China, and a witness of the friendship between Australia and China”, said MS Jan Adams,“Today we are launching the 45 Years, 45 Stories program to showcase 45 years of Australia-China friendship, and reflect the profoundness of the bilateral relationship from the eyes of both Chinese and Australians. The program pays tribute to the diversified communities and the cultural link between the two countries from such aspects as sports, science, art, commerce and academics. The stories are quite interesting, and some of them are told by people from Chongqing.”

“The significant Australia-China relations date back to a long time ago. Today’s celebration is a recording of the friendship between Australia and China”, said Wang Wen. Chongqing and Australia’s cooperation in various domains result from the enthusiasm, efforts and wisdom of Australians and Chinese from all walks of life.

More and More Australians Will Come to Chongqing

Apart from speaking to local media, MS Jan Adams also visited the highest point of Yuzhong Peninsula,Eling Park, and the old Australian Legation building inside the park on the same day of the celebration.Following the first one in Washington, the second one in Tokyo, the Chungking (the old rendering of Chongqing) Legation inside Eling Park was the third legation sent by Australia to other countries during wartime. MS Jan Adams said, “The Chungking Legation is a proof of the long-existing friendship between China and Australia.” When asked about her impression of Chongqing, MS Jan Adams said, “Eling Park is quite beautiful with all these historic buildings. It feels great to watch the Jialing river from here.”

Regarding Austria-China relations and the trade between Chongqing and Australia, MS Jan Adams said, “There is a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Australia. Meetings are held between leaders of the two countries annually, and between ministers on a regular basis.” She said that the annual trade volume between China and Australia was as little as A$113 million when the two countries established diplomatic relations 45 years ago. However, the number reached A$160 billion in 2016. “Chongqing has made significant contributions in the increase in bilateral trade. The bilateral trade volume of the fi rst 10 months of 2017 has increase by 60% from last year, which is a signi fi cant improvement and signals further development in the future”, MS Jan Adams said optimistically.

The year of 2017 is the China-Australia Year of Tourism. According to statistics, 17,000 people from Chongqing visited Australia through tourist agencies and 53,000 Australians visited Chongqing in 2016. The numbers increased by 71% and 38% respectively in 2017. There are now two direct fl ights from Chongqing to Australia, including the Chongqing-Sydney flight that has already been in service, and the Chongqing-Melbourne flight that was put in service in October 2017. MS Jan Adams said, “I expect further increase in personnel exchanges. A lot of Australians are interested in Chongqing not only because of its history, but also because it’s a dynamic international metropolis.Australians like to travel to a unique place, so I believe more and more Australians will come here.”

MS Jan Adams visited the Westa College of Southwest University in March 2016, during which she emphasized on the communication and cooperation between Chinese and Australian universities, which has a great influence on the young. The Westa College is the fi rst undergraduate education institution established collaboratively by Australia and China with the authorization of the Ministry of Education.Cooperation in education has provided great opportunities for young Australians and Chinese to learn more about the culture of the two countries, and has promoted understandings and trust between the two countries.

Cooperation in higher education has also contributed to progress and innovations in science. MS Jan Adams said,“There have been quite a few collaborations in scienti fi c researches between Chinese and Australian universities.” She also said that such collaborations are becoming increasingly frequent in recent years.Australia ranks the third on the list of countries with which China has jointly published the most research articles. The cooperation between Chinese and Australian universities has resulted in research fi ndings that can contribute to the development of the world.