The Honourable Mr.Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia, 

The Honourable Ms.Susan Close MP, Vice Premier of South Australia,

Honourable Ministers and Members of Parliament,

Honorable Mr Jack Batty MP, representing the Leader of the Opposition,

Colleagues from the Consular Corps,

Representatives of local Chinese community, Respected guests from different circles of South Australia,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Good evening!

It is a great pleasure to meet old and new friends at the National Wine Centre to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. On behalf of the Consulate-General of China in Adelaide, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our guests.

This is the seventh time that the Consulate-General and the South Australian Government jointly host a Chinese New Year dinner, which reflects the strong and special relationship between China and South Australia, and the good wishes of both sides for win-win cooperation. I hope this tradition will continue and witness the growing friendly and cooperative relationship  between China and Australia.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world went through much turmoil and challenges in 2023, while China advocated peace and cooperation, contributing great positive energy to the world with its peaceful development. China successfully implemented the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, greenness, openness and sharing,  and advances the Chinese path to modernization by adhering to high-quality growth. China's economy increased by 5.2 per cent, contributing to 1/3 of the world's total economic growth. China continues to be a crucial engine and driving force for global development. 2023 also witnessed the first commercial flight of the Chinese made C919 large passenger aircraft, and by the end of the year, China was crowned as the biggest producer as well as the biggest market in the world of new energy vehicles. With the ending of the Covid-19 pandemic, China opened its door to welcome guests from all over the world, and the Chengdu Universiade Games and Hangzhou Asian Games have become international events of great splendour.

Not long ago, the Central Conference on Foreign Affairs was held in Beijing. President Xi Jinping reiterated China's aspiration to  build a community with a shared future for mankind, advocating building an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity, and to promote multilateralism and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. At the same time, China will also resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as its security and development interests. China always believes that the effective means of promoting development and cooperation would be through strengthening common ground, rather than emphasizing and sustaining differences. 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 2023, China-Australia and China-South Australia relations were on the track of recovery and  development. In November last year, Prime Minister Albanese paid a successful official visit to China. President Xi Jinping  had fruitful meetings with Prime Minister Albanese, and the leaders provided strategic guidance for the continuous improvement and development of China-Australia relations. The Chinese Consulate General in Adelaide is trying its best within its mandate to implement the agreements of the leaders. I am honored to be posted at this period of time to the  beautiful South Australia as Consul-General to promote exchanges and cooperation. I was also honored to meet Hon.Premier Malinauskas and many colleagues of South Australia Govt in Beijing during the Premier’s first visit to China last September.  The visit opened up new prospects for cooperation in various fields between China and South Australia. It’s worth noting that China continues to be Australia's and South Australia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade accounting respectively for 31 per cent and 17 per cent of their total foreign trade. China continues to be South Australia's largest export destination, with South Australia's annual exports to China reaching 3.5 billion dollars, up over 40 per cent year-on-year. I would like to suggest a big round of applause for that!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Chinese Lunar New Year of the Dragon (Loong) is approaching. In traditional Chinese culture, the dragon has a special significance, representing auspiciousness, wisdom, strength and success. In December, 2023, the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, has been officially listed as a UN holiday unanimously endorsed by the UN General Assembly.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which presents an important opportunity for the development of China-Australia and China-South Australia relations. I hope we have more exchange of visits and cooperation projects to deepen mutual understanding, enhancing mutual respect and correct perception, and continuously improving, maintaining and developing the relationship.

I look forward to strengthening people-to-people bond between China and South Australia. Recently, I went to the Adelaide Zoo to visit 2 playful Chinese giant pandas who are the ambassadors of China-Australian friendship. South Australia is the only state in Australia where people can visit Chinese giant pandas . I hope they can continue to be the witnesses of the development of bilateral relations. 

Over the years, the Chinese community in South Australia has been actively building bridges of civil exchanges between the two sides. The Chinese Consulate-General will encourage and support local Chinese community to integrate into the local culture and add gorgeous Chinese colors to it. At the same time, we will always carry the mission and responsibility of "serving the people" and provide high-quality consular services to the local Chinese community. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the South Australian Government and friends for their support to the local Chinese community and the Consulate-General of China in Adelaide!

As the old Chinese saying goes, ‘At the beginning of the New Year, everything takes on a new look ’, with great sincerity, I wish you all a Happy Chinese New Year, and a prosperous Year of the Dragon! I wish you and your family good health and happiness!

Thank you!