In July, 1971, Gough Whitlam, as Leader of the Opposition, embarked on a historic trip to the People’s Republic of China.
Accompanying him on that trip was a delegation of Labor parliamentarians, political advisers, China experts – including Dr Stephen FitzGerald, now Distinguished Fellow at the Whitlam Institute – and journalists.
The trip was historic for many reasons: Gough Whitlam was one of the first Western leaders, in opposition at the time, to make high-level political contact with the most populous communist power in the world during the Cold War. And the visit demonstrated Whitlam’s ambition to reimagine Australian foreign policy and reposition Australia in the world.
Dr FitzGerald said of the trip, “Gough Whitlam had a breadth of vision on international geopolitics unmatched by any Australian leader. He also understood it was critical to any new direction in foreign policy to have widespread public understanding and support.”
“In one fell swoop, his 1971 visit to China not only paved the way for diplomatic relations and a resumption of important trade, it changed how Australians understood China in our foreign policy and opened the way to public support for engagement with Asia on a new basis of equality and mutual respect,” said Dr FitzGerald.
In 1972, within three weeks of taking office, the Whitlam Government had negotiated an agreement with the People’s Republic of China to establish diplomatic relations between that country and Australia, cementing a radical shift in Australia’s outlook on the world, and its region. For decades, Australia had looked to China with distrust, anxiety and paranoia. The Whitlam Government’s establishment of diplomatic relations allowed a mature cultural, social and economic relationship to develop.
Contact these people: For the Record – Gough Whitlam’s Mission to China, 1971
Whitlam took the demonology out of foreign policy, recognising China after the Coalition had refused contact with Beijing for 24 years. Whitlam ripped the rug from beneath Bill McMahon when he led a Labor delegation to China in July 1971 and the Coalition prime minister accused him of being a Communist pawn only to see United States President Richard Nixon announce his proposed visit to China a week later. Whitlam also attempted to redefine the alliance with the US.
Gough Whitlam, the founder of Australia-China diplomatic relations
50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Australia. Ambassador XIAO Qian’s speech at the 50th Anniversary Celebration Banquet, 5 November 2022, Sydney …
It gives me great pleasure to attend the banquet. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, I would like to express our heartfelt thanks and warm greetings to all the Chinese communities in Australia and friends for participating in and supporting this event.
At this historic moment to celebrate the 50th anniversary of China-Australia Relations, I would like to begin by paying tribute to Mr Gough Whitlam, the founder of Australia-China diplomatic relationship.
He was the first Australian MP to publicly propose to recognise PRC, the first Australian political party leader to visit China, and the first Australian Prime Minister to make the decision to establish diplomatic relations with China and to visit China in that capacity.
He propose that Australia should establish and develop diplomatic relations with China based on the principle of friendship, and this proposal of his on China-Australia relations is still relevant today.
Over the past 50 years, China and Australia have interacted frequently in various fields at all levels, and have achieved outstanding results through friendly and practical cooperation. Particularly in the last decade, our relationship has gained momentum and has been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
China has remained Australia’s largest trading partner for 7 consecutive years, and are also Australia’s largest source of overseas tourists and tourism spending, as well as the most important source of international students.
Australia is also an important trading partner and source of foreign investment for China. Besides, the exchanges and the development of sister provinces/states relations, including New South Wales have continued to bear fruit, making great contributions to China-Australia relations, which fully demonstrates that the nature of China-Australia relations is mutual benefit and win-win, bringing practical benefit to both countries’ people.
Dear friends,
Since the new Australian Government came to power this May, a possible opportunity to reset the China-Australia relations has emerged.
Leaders of our two countries made effected communication and contacting, resulting in important consensus. This created a good opening for the well developing of mutual relations in the future.
We hope that both sides can take concrete actions and work in the same direction based on the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit to bring China-Australia relations back on the right track in near future.
The Chinese migration to Australia has a history of over two centuries. 1.2 million overseas Chinese have been working hard and actively integrating into this society, and have made important contributions to Australia’s economic and social development, as well as the enrichment of its multicultural society.
They have also played a unique role in promoting economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and Australia.
The development and achievements of our bilateral relations over the past 50 years would have been impossible without the active participation and unique contributions of the Chinese community in Australia.
Today’s celebration also fully reflects the good wishes of the Chinese communities in Australia for the healthy and stable development of China-Australia relations.
Dear friends,
Last month, the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China successfully concluded. The national congress comprehensively elaborates the work of the past 5 years and the great transformation over the past 10 years of the new era.
Task objectives and policy guidelines of the Party and the country for the next 5 years and beyond are designed.
Blueprints of Chinese people of all ethnic groups building a strong socialist modern country and achieve the Second Centenary Goal under the Party’s leadership are drawn. The central task to promote the great national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization is mapped out.
China will always adhere to the foreign policy of maintaining world peace and promoting common development.
China is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind, and developing mutually beneficial and friendly relations with other countries in the world, which provides important opportunity for China-Australia relations.
China is ready to work together with Australia to promote a stable and sustained comprehensive strategic partnership in the long run. We hope that the Chinese community in Australia will continue to play a bridging role and make positive contributions to the development of China-Australia relations.
The 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia is of special significance to both China and Australia. We expect that both countries can take this as an opportunity and work together to welcome a brighter future for bilateral relations!
Ambassador XIAO Qian’s speech at the 50th Anniversary Celebration Banquet, 5 November 2022, Sydney
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON. E. G. WHITLAM, M. P., AT PREMIER CHOU EN-LAIPS BANQUET AT PEKING ON OCTOBER 31, 1973
Prime Minister Whitlam’s Speech at Peking Banquet, Peking, October 31, 1973 ( Nsinhua) Following is the full text of the speech in reply by Australian Prime Minister Edward Gough Whitlam at the welcoming banquet given by Premier Chou En-lai here this evening:
Premier Chou En-lai, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Your Australian guests are immensely impressed by the splendour and warmth of our reception at the airport, along the boulevard and in the Great Hall of the People.
The days of our staying here two years and three months ago we will never forget, our reception on that occasion and now on this. Australia is moving in a new direction, in its relationships with the world and specifically with the region in which Australia inevitably belongs.
The course that we are setting is already clear and committed. Our concern is no longer exclusively with nations in far removed areas of the globe.
Now, our concern is with all nations and particularly those with whom we share a common environment and common interests and with whom we seek relationships of equality.
In Peking today, we give expression to our new international outlook.
With no nation is our new aspiration symbolised more than it is with China, a power not only in our region but in the world.
We look to a future in which over-emphasis on particular associations will no longer distort the proper relationships which should exist between Australia and all neighbours. In our view, this meeting in Peking contributes significantly towards that future.
China is our close neighbour.
In China today we see a great modernising force, capable of exerting profound influence in the world. Close co-operation and association between our two peoples is both natural and beneficial.
This co-operation this association will be strengthened by our talks this week in Peking the first such talks ever between Prime Ministers of China and Australia.
In 1971 a small party and I visited China before the first visit of Dr. Henry Kissinger only a week before and on this occasion, I understand, we are visiting China only two weeks before him.
At that time, on behalf of the Australian people, I said that should I become Prime Minister we would establish diplomatic relations with China and that I would visit China in my first year of office.
The first promise we fulfilled within three weeks of gaining office.
The second at the ready invitation of Premier Chou En-lai, I am fulfilling now. Thank you, sir, for your invitation.
For myself and for those who accompany me, we hope that we may have many opportunities to return the generosity and hospitality that you and the Chinese people have offered to us.
I wanted to make this visit in my first year of office as a demonstration of the significance attached by the Australian people to developing relations with China, and in the belief that our two countries should now work in concert for the mutual benefit of the welfare and security of our two peoples.
In China’s approach to relations with other countries, we find a welcome emphasis on the principles of the equality of states and respect for the r ights and views of small and middle powers.
At a time when profound changes are taking place in the patterns of international relations, it is particularly important that the role of small and medium powers should be understood and appreciated, and that they should seize the opportunities for greater independence which the increased fluidity of the world situation presents to them.
In this context, China’s support for the principles of respect for the national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all states can make a significant contribution to strengthening peace.
These fundamental principles we support and as we work together for their implementation, our two countries will be drawn into closer co-operation.
We hope and expect that our two countries, in a relationship of mutual trust, will work increasingly together to secure respect for these broad principles in the affairs of the region which touches both our countries.
Australia shares China’s desire for a fully effective solution to the Vietnamese conflict and China’s desire that the Paris Agreements should be fully implemented by all parties concerned.
Similarly, both countries look forward to the early restoration of peace in Cambodia.
The Governments of both our countries have welcomed the agreements reached between the parties concerned in Laos and we share a desire that the correct implementation of these agreements will ensure peace in Laos.
We are both concerned that the different social systems of the countries in the region should not inhibit the flow of ideas and that greater consultation and dialogue among these countries may remove the barriers of misunderstanding and lessen the possibility of international conflict.
As relations between China and Australia develop, the continuing importance of expanding trade will be balanced by the development of close contact over a broad range of political issues.
Consultations on international questions of interest to both countries are adding substance to our relationship. Exchanges in the scientific, technological and cultural fields will expand and buttress ties between the two countries
Our relationship will not be exclusive but will have relevance beyond our purely bilateral concerns. For we believe that there are great benefits for all in putting aside the rigidities and animosities of the cold war era and grasping the opportunities inherent in the more open framework of relationships now developing in the world, to build a structure of cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual trust.
In this spirit, ladies and gentlemen, I invite you to join with me in a toast in honour of Chairman Mao Tsetung, in honour of acting Chairman of the Republic Tung Pi-wu, in honour of Premier Chou En-lai in honour of the heads of the Diplomatic Missions and their wives, in honour of all distinguished guests present, to the continued happiness and well-being of the Chinese people and to the friendship between Australia and the People’s Republic of China.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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