Australian embassy launched Wedenesday the program 45 Years 45 Stories in celebration of 45th anniversary of Australia-China diplomatic relations on Dec. 21.

45 Years, 45 Stories is a collection of stories told from Australian and Chinese perspectives that speak to the breadth and depth of the friendship between both peoples.

“The friendship between Australian and Chinese people has an extraordinarily long history, even before we established official diplomatic relations,” said Ms. Jan Adams, Australia’s Ambassador to China. “We present 45 Years, 45 Stories to celebrate the diverse community and multifaceted cultural links across sports, science, arts, business, and academia that are the fabric of the Australia-China relationship.”

(Ms. Jan Adams delivers an opening speech at a press conference on the 45th Anniversary of Australia-China Diplomatic Relations)

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, announced 45 Years, 45 Stories program at the third Australia- China High-Level Dialogue in Melbourne.

The 45th anniversary is an important milestone for the ever-expanding relationship between both countries, as well as an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant bilateral relationship with strong economic, trade, and political bonding.

Shelley Warner, a former diplomat in the advance party to open the Australian embassy in Beijing in 1973, has witnessed the magnificent changes that have taken place in China over the past five decades. Shelley expressed her gratitude toward the Chinese mentors she worked with for helping lift the veil on China and build essential trust.

(Shelley Warner answers a reporter’s questions at a press conference in the Australian Embassy Beijing)

(Shelley Warner with Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People’s Republic of China in 1973)

Chen Shaoliang became the first Chinese AFL player with Port Adelaide Football Club, five years after he was chosen at Guangzhou Sports University and invited to play football in Australia in 2012. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang encouraged Chen to bring this Aussie style football game to China during his diplomatic visit in March 2017.

(Chen Shaoliang, the first Chinese AFL player in Australia and captain of Team China)

Geng Ling was the pioneer figure who introduced Australia’s post production services to the Chinese film making industry with Soundfirm Australia, which later established Soundfirm Beijing, the first post production joint venture in China.

(Geng Ling with the film crew of Eternal Love)

One of the first Australian hosts on Chinese television, Heidi Dugan, is hosting a cooking show called You Are the Chef in Shanghai. The show aired daily for over 17 years reaching over six million viewers. Her understanding of Chinese and Australian cultures gave her a fulfilled and challenging life.

(Hendi Dugan is hosting the Chinese cooking show You Are the Chef in Shanghai, and has lived in China for 21 years)

Ambassador Adams said that the bilateral benefits achieved so far are impressive and incredible. The amount of financial trades between China and Australia has escalated from 113 million Australian dollars in 1973 to 160 billion Australian dollars today, and the number of exchange students has risen from 5 in 1973 to 160,000 to date.