Address by Chinese Consul General in Perth Fu Lihua at the 2026 Chinese New Year Reception

Mr Yaz Mubarakai MLA, parliament secretary, representing Hon. Dr Tony Buti, MLA, Minister for Multicultural Interest,
Hon. Nick Goiran MLC, leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, representative of the Leader of the Opposition,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening. It's my first time hosting the Chinese New Year Reception in Perth, and I'm in great pleasure to celebrate the arrival of the Year of Horse with all of you tonight. On behalf of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Perth, I'd like to extend new year wishes to all the dear friends here tonight. Wish you a healthy, fortunate and wealthy new year!

Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival. Its celebration has been the common cultural memory passed down through generations by Chinese people all around the world. It embraces inclusiveness and diversity, and becomes a cultural practice linking China to the world. Nowadays, Chinese New Year has become a UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage and a UN floating holiday. It is celebrated by approximately one fifth of the world population and has become a beneficial platform for cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations,  which is positively meaningful for building a Community of Shared Future for Mankind. Putting up Spring Festival couplets, writing the Chinese Character Fu which means good fortune, playing lion dance and setting off fireworks, the ways of celebrating Chinese New Year may differ in different regions, but the sincere wishes for blessing to family and friends, and for the best fortunes in the new year remain the same. People gather together with the whole family at this moment to review their accomplishment of previous year's hard work and plan for the coming new year.

Looking back to the year of snake, China has made great achievements in its economic and social development. With growth rate at 5%, China's GDP surpassed the 140-trillion-yuan threshold momentum. China has remained the world's largest trading nation in goods for 8 consecutive years and consistently contributed around 30% to global economic growth. China remains a primary engine and stabilizer of the world economy.

The past year has also witnessed fruitful results through China-Australia friendly cooperation, with mutual political trust increasingly accumulated by frequent high-level exchanges, and mutual beneficial cooperation continuously deepen, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

Premier Cook's visit to China last September injected new impetus to China-WA cooperation. China has been WA's largest trade partner, export market and import origin for 17 consecutive years. Our practical cooperation has been deepend and expanded. People to People communication has also been vibrant. The Chinese terracotta warrior exhibition has attracted over 300 thousand visitors for WA Museum. China Southern Airlines has restored its year-round Perth -Guangzhou direct flights. Perth Lynx bolstered its team with a Chinese played Han Xu. Tonight, we are greatly honored to have artists of Jiangxi Culture and Performance Arts Group from China, presenting a heritage-rich display of Chinese culture, the "Harmony of Spring",which features a selection of intangible cultural heritage performance. It is the first commercial show of China's high-level art group in Perth, which sets a precedent for nes type of people to people communication between China and WA. Let us enjoy the beauty of Chinese culture.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

We have a saying in Chinese that the key to a fruitful year is to make a good plain in spring, which is a season of new hope. In the coming year, China will implement its fifteenth Five Year Plan of social and economic development, continue pursing high-quality development, expanding high-level opening-up. China is ready to share more opportunities with the world for common development. Western Australia could take this new opportunity, strengthen cooperation with China in traditional area, and actively explore new cooperation possibilities, so as to promote WA's economic transformation by grasping the impetus by China's new development.

In the new year, with the running of year-round direct flight from Perth to Guangzhou and the extension of visa free policy, we are looking forward to further promoting cooperation with WA in culture, sports, tourism, education and other people to people exchanges. China welcomes our young generation to be part of this, especially China-bound exchanges to experience the true and muti-dimensional China. Consolidation of the friendship of people from both sides will contribute to the long-term, stable development of relations between China and WA.

In the new year of horse, let us charge ahead like horses with courage, vitality, wisdom and resilience, join hands to work for a stronger friendship and cooperation between China and WA.

Last but not least, May the performance "Harmony of Spring" a great success! Wish everyone a happy new year and all the best fortunes.

Thank you.