Premier Li Keqiang visited Australia from March 22 to 26, 2017. Dr Chau Chak Wing, Chair of the Asia-Pacific Region World Leadership Alliance – Club de Madrid President's Circle, President of the Australia-China Friendship and Exchange Association, and Chairman of Kingold Group, hosted and attended several events during the visit.
1. An Invitation to Qiu Yuanping, Minister of the State Council's Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, to the Sydney University
On March 23rd, Dr Chau Chak Wing and Dr Michael Spencer, President of Sydney University, invited Qiu Yanping, Minister of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, to Sydney University and accompanied her on a tour of the campus.
President Spencer showed her the Dr Chau Chak Wing Museum, which is being built under an intense schedule. The museum is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 for a 2019 opening. It will become a landmark building for cultural exchanges between China and Australia. Qiu Yuanping noted that Dr Chau's donation of the museum to the University of Sydney was a significant contribution to the development of friendly relations between China and Australia.
2. Co-hosting the Second China-Australia State-Provincial Leaders Forum
On March 24th, Dr Chau and Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, co-chaired the Sherpa meeting of Chinese delegates to the Second China-Australia State-Provincial Leaders Forum.
On the afternoon of March 24th, Dr Chau attended the China-Australia State-Provincial Leaders Forum. Premier Li Keqiang and Australian Prime Minister Turnbull attended and delivered keynote speeches.
Li voiced support for cooperation at the local level; urged greater bilateral cooperation at the national and local levels; and called on both sides to extend exchanges to more sectors, such as education, culture, science and technology, tourism, young people, and the media, to foster friendship and better understanding.
Australian PM Turnbull commented that Australia and China have a long history of local exchanges and close cooperation which benefit the people of both countries. The development of relations between Australia and China is inseparable from the active participation of local people. Australia and China are reliable partners, and the two countries face many new opportunities for cooperation. He hoped that the two countries could continue to promote local exchanges and cooperation to achieve economic prosperity and promote free trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
Provincial leaders from China included Shi Taifeng, Governor of Jiangsu; Chen Run'er, Governor of Hunan; Wang Xiaodong, Governor of Hubei; Ma Xingrui, Governor of Guangdong; Zhang Guoqing, the Mayor of Chongqing; Hu Heping, Governor of Shannxi Province; Gao Jianmin, Executive Vice Governor of Shanxi; Zhang Xiaoqin, Vice Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Australian officials were from six states and two territories, including Will Hodgman, Premier of Tasmania; Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of New South Wales; Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria; Annastacia Palaszczuk, Premier of Queensland; Mark McGowan, Premier of Western Australia; Jay Weatherill, Premier of South Australia; Walls, Minister of Northern Territory Primary Industries, and Smith, Special Representative of the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. Focusing on the Sino-Australian FTA: Interoperability, Cooperation and Win-win, the 16 officials discussed exchanges and cooperation between local governments in Australia and China in trade, investment, tourism, education, culture, and the smart city.
3. Dialogue between Overseas Chinese and Guangdong Companies, Moderated by Ma Xingrui, Governor of Guangdong
On the afternoon of May 25th, Dr Chau attended the Dialogue between Overseas Chinese and Guangdong Companies, moderated by Ma Xingrui, Governor of Guangdong. At the symposium, Dr Chau was invited to speak first and he shared his opinions and suggestions on the development of Guangzhou City and Guangdong Province. His remarks were recognised by Governor Ma.
4. Welcoming Banquet in Honour of Premier Li Keqiang
On the evening of March 25th, the Australian Overseas Chinese held a grand dinner to welcome Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and his wife, Mrs. Cheng Hong. Dr Chau was invited to the head table.
The welcoming dinner was held in the 127-year-old Centennial Hall of the Sydney Town Hall. Around 6:30, Premier Li Keqiang and his wife walked into the brightly lit hall and received standing ovations from more than 600 Chinese overseas Chinese representatives, community leaders and people from all walks of life.
Premier Li Keqiang delivered a warm speech at the banquet, praising the overseas Chinese for their contribution to the development of Australia and friendly relations between China and Australia friendly relations. During the dinner, Premier Li Keqiang and his wife had cordial conversations with the overseas Chinese representatives at the head table and watched wonderful performances put on by local Chinese organisations.