On 1 October 2026, to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Consul General of China in Perth FU Lihua published a signed article, “Together, on Development, Peace and Stability” in The West Australian, a mainstream Australian newspaper.

The article provides a comprehensive review of the remarkable achievements of the People’s Republic of China, presents China’s policy perspectives and vision, and highlights the importance of advancing China–Australia relations and practical cooperation between China and Western Australia.

The full text is as follows:

It has been one year since I assumed office as Consul-General of China in Perth. Over the past year, I have visited people from all walks of life and travelled across various parts of Western Australia.

I have been awed by the magnificence of this land, moved by the friendship between the people of China and Western Australia, and inspired by the wellbeing that our mutually beneficial co-operation has brought to the people.

On the occasion of celebrating the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, I would like to take this opportunity to brief friends from all sectors of Western Australia on relevant developments in China, extend my sincere gratitude to friends from all sectors who have long cared for and supported China — Australia and China — Western Australia friendship, and express my willingness to work together with friends from all sectors to deepen China-Western Australia friendship and mutually beneficial co-operation.

Today, October 1, 2026, is the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Over the past 77 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have overcome numerous difficulties and obstacles and achieved the tremendous transformation from standing up and growing prosperous to becoming strong. We have created the two miracles of both rapid economic development and long-term social stability. The 56 ethnic groups in China enjoy equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony, and are working together for common prosperity and development, living and working in peace and contentment, with democracy, the rule of law and social wellbeing constantly improving.

This year, despite a complex and volatile international environment, the Chinese economy has continued to demonstrate strong resilience and vitality. In the first half of the year, China’s GDP grew by 4.7 per cent and foreign trade in goods increased by 16.9 per cent year-on-year. New growth drivers accounted for over 40 per cent of economic growth. Scientific and technological innovation has produced remarkable results, green transformation has been comprehensively accelerated, and Chinese modernisation has taken new and solid steps forward.

“Peaceful” and “open” are the two key words for understanding China’s development path. China stays committed to the path of peaceful development and will always be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order, and a provider of public goods. China has put forward initiatives from the four dimensions of global development, security, civilisation and governance, and has actively promoted the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. The Global Governance Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September last year has demonstrated ever-stronger vitality and has been widely welcomed and supported by nearly 160 countries and international organisations.

China pursues the strategy of opening up for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, firmly upholds the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and actively builds a new system of a higher-standard open economy, continuously providing new opportunities for the world through China’s new development. China is the largest “stabiliser” of global industrial and supply chains. Its trade in goods has ranked first in the world for nine consecutive years, and its imports have ranked second in the world for 17 consecutive years.

It is a major trading partner of more than 160 countries and regions. China actively expands imports, applies zero tariffs to 63 countries, and China is the only country to host a national-level international import expo, and has launched a series of “Export to China” activities to support more quality goods and services in entering China’s ever-growing vast market. China continues to expand institutional opening up and to burnish the “Invest in China” brand. In 2025, more than 70,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established nationwide, with a growth of 19.1 per cent year-on-year. Accounting for 17 per cent of the global economy, China contributes 30 per cent of world growth, making it the most stable and reliable driving force for global economic growth.

Through scientific and technological progress and industrial upgrading, China will also provide more “innovation dividends” and bring more development opportunities and greater development space to the world.

China and Australia, thousands of miles apart, have no historical grievances or conflict of fundamental interests. Both our peoples are honest and friendly, our economies are highly complementary, and mutually beneficial co-operation has brought great benefits to each other. In this increasingly turbulent international situation, we should cherish each other even more, remain undisturbed by external factors, and firmly pursue friendly co-operation to benefit both peoples.

Looking back at how China-Australia relations have moved from a low point on to the track of stable and sound development in recent years, the most important insight that gives the two sides is that mutual respect, treating each other as equals, seeking common ground while respecting differences, and mutually beneficial co-operation best serve the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples.

The China-Western Australia relationship is the most vivid footnote to China-Australia relations. Our highly complementary economies have forged a natural bond of co-operation. This year, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development has been implemented. Where intelligent upgrading and green transformation intersect, lies more opportunities for Western Australia’s industrial development.

Meanwhile, China-Western Australia co-operation in education, tourism, culture and other fields is also flourishing. We are ready to work with all sectors in Western Australia, moving together towards the vast ocean of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. At present, China implements unilateral visa-free entry for 50 countries including Australia, making travel to and living in China more convenient. We welcome more friends to visit China more often for exchanges, co-operation, tourism and sightseeing. The Chinese Consulate-General in Perth is ready to provide relevant support and facilitation.