On April 8, Australian Prime Minister Julia Eileen Gillard visited CELAP and delivered speech. The Prime Minister was joined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness and Australian Ambassador to China.  Madam Yin Yicui, Chairwoman of Shanghai People’s Congress and First Vice President of CELAP, warmly welcomed PM Julia Gillard and had a short meeting. Prof. Feng Jun, Executive Vice President of CELAP, joined the meeting.

 

In the meeting, Madam Yin Yicui introduced CELAP’s establishing significance, positioning and its cooperation with Australian educational services. Madam Gillard stressed the importance to improve educational quality, especially in leadership training.

 

 

After the meeting, Madam Gillard delivered a speech to CELAP participants. In the speech themed Australian in the Asian Century, PM Julia Gillard stressed to broaden and deepen Australia’s relationship with China by strengthening economic, financial and educational ties. She also announced that Australian and Chinese currencies will be directly traded for the first time, making the Australian dollar the 3^rd major currency directly traded in China’s mainland foreign exchange market.

 

Madam Gillard further illustrated Australian government’s policies on foreign capital, China-Australia trade relations, regional peace and stability and China-Australian cultural exchange. She implied huge potential in Australian financial service, social security and healthcare for Chinese investors.

 

Participants from “Urban Innovation-Driven Development Program”, “Urban Economic Structure Adjustment Program”, “Urban Eco-civilization Construction Program” and CELAP faculty and staff attended the speech.

 

 

 

Translated and edited by Xu Ziren