This year’s China-Australia High Level Talks was held on Dec. 7th in No.51, Yannanyuan, Peking University. The event was co-hosted by Peking University and La Trobe University, and organized by the Institute for Cultural Industries, Peking University, the Centre of Australian Studies, Peking University as well as the Centre for Dialogue, La Trobe University and the Centre for China Studies, La Trobe University.

Mr. Wang Yongzhang, Vice Chairman of Chinese Culture Promotion Society and Former Director of the Department of the Cultural Industries of the PRC Ministry of Culture, Mr. Zhu Yilong, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and Chairman of Yindi Group, Prof. Zhang Guoyou, Former Vice President and Professor of Peking University Guanghua School of Management, Ms. Sophie Mirabella, Senior Member of the Liberal Party of Australia and Former Shadow Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science, Prof. John Dewar, Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University, Prof. Joseph Camilleri, Professor Emeritus of La Trobe University and Founding Director of the Centre for Dialogue, Mr. Steve Howard, Secretary General of Global Foundation, and some thirty other guests from China and Australia attended the talks.

Wang Yongzhang speaking
 

John Dewar speaking

In the opening ceremony, Mr. Wang Yongzhang, Prof. Yu Hongjun, Vice Chairman of the University Council, and Prof. John Dewar made remarks. Prof. Liu Shusen, Secretary-general of Australia Studies Center hosted the ceremony.

During the day-long talks, delegates from both countries shared perspectives and had roundtable discussions over four major aspects of the China-Australia relationship: economic cooperation for common prosperity, dialogue across cultures, creative industries and innovation, and policy making. In each session there were two major speakers and fifty minutes of roundtable discussions in which delegates voiced their opinions. Issues like infrastructure investments drew much attention. The expectation of having the discussion written down and further developed is shared by many.

 
The meeting ended with a conclusion speech by Professor Emeritus and Founding Director of Centre for Dialogue in La Trobe University Joseph Camilleri. Later the delegates enjoyed a nice dinner at No.51 Yannanyuan. Before dinner, Mr. Justin Hayhurst, Deputy Head of Mission of Australian Embassy, Prof. Gao Song, Vice President of Peking University, and Prof. John Dewar, Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University made remarks.

Justin Hayhurst speaking

Written by: Gan Lanhuizi