Can I begin by acknowledging the Peramangk and the Kaurna people as the traditional owners of this land, and I pay my respects to their elders past and present.
I want to recognise the Co-Chairs – Mr Wang Chao and Dr Craig Emerson, and the close collaboration of the China People’s Institute for Foreign Affairs and the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Foundation for Australia-China Relations.
I also want to acknowledge former minister and my predecessor Julie Bishop, the Secretary of my Department, Jan Adams, Ambassador Xiao Qian, and other esteemed members of both delegations.
I also welcome my parliamentary colleague Senator Birmingham today.
It is a pleasure to be able to be hold this dialogue in the Adelaide Hills, just a few months after I met Premier Li Qiang in Adelaide for the first leg of his visit to Australia.
Prime Minister Albanese said during that visit that there is no fixed model for a stabilised relationship.
Holding this dialogue is another step in the path of stabilising the relationship between Australia and China.
I have said many times that this is not a reset, or going back to the way the relationship used to be.
So it is true that we are, as the Chinese idiom goes, crossing the river by feeling for the stones, to find what works for both countries in 2024.
That is in part my job, as Foreign Minister.
But it is not only for me. In this room, I can see the breadth and depth of people that contribute to this relationship.
The businesses that have worked together for decades.
The stories that have been told across language and culture.
All of you – across the parliament, industry, academia, media, the arts and government – you all have a role in making this relationship work.
A relationship where we can cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest.
For Australia, what this means is that we recognise that we have different systems and different values, but we are always better served by being able to have dialogue.
So we cooperate and work together on trade and economic issues, education, climate change and energy – as was agreed during Premier Li’s visit.
And we understand the points on which we disagree won’t simply disappear if we leave them in silence.
And so in these forums, for Australia, it is important that we discuss human rights, foreign interference, consular cases such as Dr Yang Jun, and trade impediments.
Dialogue between governments and dialogue such as today help us to understand each other’s perspective better, and navigate these differences.
It ensures that our relationship is not only defined by those differences.
I would make this point also. A stable relationship with China is not only in Australia’s interests, or even just in both countries’ interests.
It is in the interests of the broader region – which shares our vision of a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous.
Australia consistently advocates for a region where countries respect each other’s sovereignty and adhere to internationally accepted rules and norms.
Where countries have the freedom to decide their own futures.
And the space to agree and disagree.
Where each country – large or small – operates by the same rules.
Rules they have had a say in shaping.
I have said before that as a great power, we know China will continue to assert itself in reshaping the region and the world.
And that China’s size and weight makes it central to global challenges, from climate change to health.
To be clear, we understand, that as the world’s second largest economy, China looks to play an even greater role in international affairs.
With this role comes a greater responsibility – to ensure that when disputes arise, they are managed according to the rules, and through dialogue.
It also comes with greater scrutiny. There are some who complain, for example, about the active Australian media.
I do have some experience with media scrutiny.
What I would say is that in this country, where freedom of the press and expression is not only central to who we are, but also to what our people expect.
And this scrutiny strengthens debate, and in turn, strengthens government.
China as a great power, will continue to attract attention for the decisions that it makes.
Because those decisions have an impact on Australia and an impact beyond.
China’s growth story has been a crucial driver of prosperity here in Australia, in our region and in the world.
And the way in which China wields its influence – economic or otherwise – also reverberates.
I know you have discussed our trade and investment relationships this morning.
I’m confident that our friends from the agriculture sector would have reiterated our case for the lifting of remaining impediments on live lobster and red meat establishments.
And this afternoon, you will go on to discuss international and regional issues and people-to-people links.
I want to particularly highlight the role of the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Foundation for Australia-China Relations for its essential role in building these links across communities, business, education, climate change, and culture and the arts.
Thank you to the Foundation for hosting the Dialogue today, and to our Chinese visitors, for coming to Adelaide and participating in a constructive and productive manner.
I look forward to hearing about the remainder of your discussions.
