‘45 years, 45 stories' reveals China-Australian diplomatic ties

[Photo: courtesy of Embassy of Australia in Beijing]

Dec. 21^st marks the 45^th anniversary of China and Australia formally establishing diplomatic ties. 

To celebrate this occasion, the Australian embassy in China recently launched the "45 years, 45 Stories" project, a collection of stories that encapsulate the depth and breadth of China-Australia relations. 

The stories in the "45 Years, 45 Stories" series are told from both Australian and Chinese perspectives. They highlight the multifaceted community and cultural links formed by the two peoples in the areas of sports, science, the arts, business and academia.

The story tellers include Helley Warner, one of the first batch of Australian diplomats coming to China; Heidi Dugen, an Australian who has become a popular TV host in China; Chen Shaoliang, the first Chinese to play in the Australian Football League; and Geng Ling, a liaison between Chinese and Austrian film makers…… the list goes on and on.

Jan Adams, the Australian Ambassador to China, said the "45 individuals and their stories" are just a glimpse of China-Australia exchanges.

"Before we had government-to-government relationships, there were connections of course between Chinese and Australian peoples. Today, the '45 Years, 45 Stories' that we present, is really just a snapshot of some of the friendship that have been formed and the great achievements made by Chinese and Australian people since the joint Communique signed by our ambassadors in France to establish the diplomatic relations in Beijing on 21st of December 1972," Adams said. 

One featured individual in the series, Shelley Warner, was part of the first group of diplomats sent to China to open the Australian embassy in Beijing in 1973, just months after the two countries formally established ties. In fluent Mandarin Chinese, the former diplomat recounted an unforgettable moment for her, when she was a junior diplomat having just arrived in Beijing.

Shelly said: "It was in April, 1973, one day we were working at the embassy and we got a call from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and we were told to stay in the embassy because there was a really important announcement. So at around 8 pm we got a call saying we have to go to the Great Hall of the People immediately. So when we got there it was then Premier Zhou Enlan who welcomed us. This is something really memorable and I will never forget."

Warner recalled that many countries were beginning to establish relations with China in the 1970s, and 1972 was an especially busy year in China's foreign diplomacy. According to her, the first student exchange program between China and Australia was pushed forward by Premier Zhou Enlai.

Looking back at the development of China-Australia ties, Jan Adams, Australian Ambassador to China said, back in 1972, 1973, there were people in China and in Australia who had great visions for what the future might bring. But no one probably had imagined the progress seen today, both in terms of China's overall development, and in the bilateral relationship.

Jan said: "So at the political level, we have comprehensive strategic partnership, we have very regular positive leader's level and ministerial level discussions. The economic relationships is very large and mutually beneficial. In '73, we had about 113 million dollars of bilateral trade, and today we have about 160 billion dollars of bilateral trade. It's unbelievable. Of course, China is Australia's largest trading partner. But Australia is China's 7^th largest, at which, it's still extremely significant." 

Heidi Dugen is an Australian who has been working in the TV industry in Shanghai for 17 years. Her show You are The Chef, is watched by 7 million people in Shanghai daily and is also enjoyed by the Australian audiences.

"When I first came here, I was really about, sort of oh, I'll do a year, I'll do another year. Then, about sort of 10, 12 years ago, I decided I'm not going to do that anymore, you know this is my home. When I go back to Australia, but I go back to my home. But when I come back here, I'm coming back home. So I feel so incredibly grateful that China has really taken me and embrace me in their arms and have let me do so many amazing things and bring two cultures together, " Heidi said. 

The 45^th anniversary is an important milestone for the ever-expanding relationship between China and Australia. And people-to-people exchanges will help make those ties even stronger and more successful.

[The audio clip is from Studio+, produced by CRI]