Mr William Chiu, Chairman of ACPPRC, made a welcome speech and gave a New Year blessing to all guests.

There were seven addresses from officials:
H.E. Chen Yuming, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Australia;
The Hon Senator Matt Thistlethwaite, Representative of the Prime Minister of Australia;
The Hon. Philip Ruddock, Representative of the Federal Opposition Leader;
The Hon. Barry O’Farrell MP, Premier of NSW;
H.E. Duan Jie Long, Consul-General of the PRC in Sydney;
The Hon John Robertson MP, the Leader of the NSW Opposition;
H.E. Xiong Changliang, Department General Director of OCAO of the State Council of PRC .

After the photographic session and presents exchange, Mr Frank Chou, Senior Honorary Chairman of ACPPRC, presented a vote of thanks.

Other distinguished guests that attended the banquet were as below:
The Hon Senator Kate Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary for the Prime Minister & Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
The Hon. Donald Harwin MLC, President of the Legislative Council of NSW
The Hon Greg Smith SC MP, NSW Attorney General and Minister for Justice
The Hon Gladys Berejiklian MP, NSW Minister for Transport
The Hon.Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Citizenship and Communities, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
Mr Daryl Maguire MP, Member for Wagga Wagga, Government Whip, chairman of Asia Pacific Friendship Group.
Mr Jonathan O'Dea MP, Member for Davidson
Mr Charles Casuscelli RFD, MP, Member for Strathfield
Ms Hu Xiaolan, Deputy Consul-General of the PRC in Sydney
Mr Liu Kan, Deputy Consul-General of the PRC in Sydney
Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chairman of the Community Relations Commission
The Hon Dr. Meredith Burgmann, former President of the Legislative Council of NSW, Councillor of Sydney Council
The Hon. Helen Sham-Ho, former MLC of NSW，Mr Robert Ho, former Councillor of Sydney
The Hon Warwick Smith AM,Chair of Australia-China Council
Dr. Wing-Kun Tam, International President of Lions Clubs International
Mr Jim Harrowell AM, President of Australia China Business Council (NSW)
Dr Michael Spence,Vice-Chancellor and Principal, the University Of Sydney
Mr Peter Sinn, Chairman of Hong Kong – Australian Business Association
......

It is with great pleasure that I send my best wishes to everyone celebrating the Chinese New Year as we welcome the Year of the Dragon.

The Year of the Dragon is traditionally associated with strength, loyalty and luck-and I hope you and your family enjoy these qualities in abundance.

Chinese New Year is one of our major celebrations and therefore a time for all Australians to rejoice in the success of the multicultural society we have built together, and to celebrate the exceptional contribution the Chinese community has made to our nation.

As we commemorate Chinese New Year, let us remember that the Chinese community has been part of Australian society for almost two centuries. The shape of our nation is unimaginable without this rich and unique strand of our history.

Today the significance of our Chinese heritage assumes even deeper meaning as we built our contemporary friendship with China and seize the opportunities of the ‘Asian Century’, which is so greatly changing our region and our world. Our nation has never faced the future with greater confidence or better prospects.

In that spirit, I wish all Chinese Australians a happy and prosperous New Year. May the Year of the Dragon bring good fortune and happiness to all.

The Honourable Julia Gillard
Prime Minister of Australia

Tonight we are pleased to have about 500 guests gathering here to share the joy of celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Dragon and the 40th Anniversary of Australia-China diplomatic relationship and the successful performance of the art troupe led by the Overseas Chinese Affairs office of the State Council of China. Please allow me, on behalf of ACPPRC, to extend our warmest welcome and sincere gratitude to your successful performance.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Dr. Wing-Kun Tam President, Mr PID Barry Palmer 2nd Vice President and friends from the International Lions Clubs. I was given the great honor to become an honorary member of Lions Clubs International.

The Year of the Dragon started in Sydney in great vivacity with the arriving of the art troupe led by H.E. Mr. Xiong Changliang to entertain the Australian Chinese community. It will also witness the commencement of a series of celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship between Australia and China organized by ACPPRC. This gives greater honour and significance to tonight’s gathering. For 40 years, peoples of the two countries have developed the all-round relationship between the two countries to a new height. It was the Chinese Cultural Year in Australia last year. A series of economic, cultural, investment and political exchanges have greatly?enhanced the mutual understanding and friendship between our two?countries. The successful visit of President Jia Qinglin to Australia?highlighted the continuous development of the friendly relationship between our two countries. We will continue our efforts to further promote and strengthen the friendly relationship between our two countries and to further promote the peaceful reunification of China.

A stable, prosperous, strong and united China is a blessing not only to the people across the strait, but also to the peoples of the world, including the Australian people.

May the Year of the Dragon bring happy blessings to China, to Australia, to everyone of you here tonight and your families! Thank you!

William Chiu
Chairman of ACPPRC