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DELEGATIONS

Council delegation visit to Beijing, October 1998

A Council delegation visited Beijing from 24 to 30 October 1998 in conjunction with the Sixth International Conference on Australian Studies in China. Council delegation members addressed the conference on their area of expertise in Australia-China relations, as outlined earlier in this report. Participation at the conference also provided the Council with the opportunity to meet with representatives of Australian Studies centres to obtain feedback on their activities and development needs.

Outside the conference, the visit enabled Council members to participate in a number of events relevant to current programs, hold discussions with a number of key organisations involved in program delivery and obtain feedback important for future planning of activities. The Council also held its 70th meeting in Beijing during the visit.

The Council's program in Beijing included: discussions with the Australian Embassy on its strategic plan and forward program of activities; meeting with the President of the Council's counterpart, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries; official opening of the China-Australia Electronic Information Centre at the National Library of China; discussions with the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (AustCham); meeting with a group of Young Scholars in China studying in Beijing; and discussions on a range of bilateral issues and council programs with senior officials at the Australian Embassy in Beijing.

Council members meet with senior figures in Australia–China relations. Pictured from left, HE Mr Hua Junduo, Mr Stuart Simson, HE Mr Zhu Qizhen and HE Mr Shi Chunlai

Council members also met with senior figures in Australia-China relations during their visit: former Chinese Ambassadors to Australia HE Mr Shi Chunlai, Deputy Director General, China Centre for International Studies, and HE Mr Hua Junduo, Vice-President, The Institute of Foreign Affairs; and HE Mr Zhu Qizhen, former Vice Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee, National People's Congress, who opened the first Chinese Embassy in Australia as Chargé d'Affaires in 1973.

Committee members also made separate calls related to their program areas: the Culture Committee at the Ministry of Culture; the Education Committee at the People's Education Press, National People's Congress Education Committee and the China Scholarship Council.

Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) visit to Australia, April 1999

A delegation from the Council's formal counterpart organisation in China, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), visited Australia from 6 to 12 April 1999 at the invitation of the Council. The delegation was led by CPAFFC President Mr Qi Huaiyuan who was making his first visit to Australia and included calls in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. The delegation comprised:

There were a number of objectives for the visit given the wide range of interests of delegation members. The delegation visited medical facilities, viewed agricultural and animal husbandry developments and met government officials at federal, State and local levels. The delegation also met a number of people who have had a long association with Australia-China relations including former Prime Minister and council Chair, Mr Gough Whitlam AC QC, founding council member Professor Stephen FitzGerald AO, and Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney and former council member Councillor Henry Tsang OAM. The Australia-China Friendship Society (ACFS) hosted large functions for the delegation in each city. The visit was successful in strengthening links between the Council and CPAFFC and in furthering ties of friendship between the peoples of Australia and China.