In most people's minds, "humor" seems to be a patent of Western politicians. However, at the welcoming banquet held by Australian Prime Minister Li Keqiang and his wife at noon on March 23, local time, the impromptu speech of the Chinese Prime Minister refreshed the knowledge of hundreds of senior Australian officials and members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
In the subsequent talks, the Speaker of the Parliamentary Assembly of Australia and the Speaker of the House of Commons respectively stated that Premier Li’s impromptu speech “is full of humor and wisdom and we all like it very much”.
Australian opposition leader Xiao Dun told Li Keqiang: “The best player in every Australian rugby match is ‘the best player in the field.’ You are the 'best player' on the luncheon today!”
Detail 1: "Ready to Come" and "Rush Response"
In order to welcome Prime Minister Li Keqiang from afar, Australian Prime Minister Turnbull has clearly made preparations. In his speech at the welcome luncheon, Turnbull’s background towards the Chinese Premier is “really rare”.
“As far as I know, Premier Li Keqiang is the first Chinese Premier who has a background in law. I am only the 14th Prime Minister of Australia with a lawyer background. And I did not translate the famous “Leader Li” in his student days. "The due process of the law," said Turnbull in his opening remarks. "Premier Li Keqiang has both professional background in economics and law. You must also know how strong China and Australia are in mutual benefit."
Li Keqiang’s subsequent impromptu speech responded to the “ready to come” discourse of Turnbull.
"I and Mr. Turnbull both study law. All of you here also respect the rule of law. I hope everyone will promote our bilateral cooperation based on the consensus of human society," said Li.
There was a warm applause in the banquet hall.
Detail 2: "A dish" and "a chatter"
At this welcome luncheon held at the Australian Parliament House, the dishes are very simple. There is only a salad, a grilled chicken, a dessert and a small round bread. The Australian side's arrangements for dishes were also improvised by Li Keqiang into his own speech.
“When I was staying at the hotel yesterday, there was an “Australia” newspaper on my desk. I was reporting a news story that I came to visit. The last few words in the title were 'for beef market' (for the beef market).” "So I asked the waiter when I was just reading the menu. Did you have 'Beef' today? He said no, only 'Chicken'."
In a burst of laughter from the audience, Li Keqiang continued: Australia's beef quality is cheap, and China’s chicken is also very competitive. This arrangement shows that both countries are pursuing “trade fairness”. He immediately said: "I would like to emphasize that my visit is not only for 'Beef' (beef) and 'Chicken' (chicken), but also for cooperation and exchanges between China and Australia in many areas. I am for free trade. Come, come for peace and stability in the region, and come for the diversity of civilizations!"
The Australian government officials attending the banquet and members of the House of Representatives gave warm applause to the Chinese Prime Minister.
Detail 3: "Airplanes Climb the Cloud" and "Friendship Advances"
Prime Minister Turnbull had done business in China and his young granddaughter had already learned Chinese.
“Just yesterday, my granddaughter pointed to a painting on the wall and said 'fish' in Chinese and then translated it into English 'fish' tenderly.” Turnbull said in his speech, “But I The granddaughter is still less than two years old and cannot be translated here today, so we can only rely on the communication between Premier Li and Ms. Cheng's 'very good' English."
Turnbull then listed the progress of cooperation between Australia and China in the areas of technological innovation, culture, education, and tourism. The opposition leader Xiao Dun also recalled the history of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Australia in his speech. Li Keqiang even more skillfully announced his expectations of Sino-Australian relations.
“When my wife and I were about to arrive in Canberra last night, our plane passed through a thick layer of clouds and we could see lightning on both sides. But we are always on the move.” Li Keqiang said meaningfully, “We are in friendship with China and Australia. We must always have firm belief in advancing, advancing, and advancing.”
Detail 4: "Trade Deficit" and "Expanding Openness"
In his speech, Turnbull listed a set of data on China-Australia economic and trade cooperation: after the China-Australia FTA became effective for more than one year, Australian wine exports to China rose by 38%, fresh orange exports increased by 36%, and skin care products were exported. With an increase of 82%, abalone exports have doubled, Australian lobster exports have more than quadrupled, and bilateral trade between China and Australia has exceeded $100 billion.
“A wine merchant told me that during his 39 years of business, the China-Australia FTA is one of the most important policy developments,” said Turnbull.
Li Keqiang added another figure in his subsequent speech: In 2016, China’s trade deficit with Australia was close to US$50 billion. "Of course we do not want to see trade imbalances, but we firmly believe that resolving trade imbalances must be done by expanding trade and not closing the door," said Li.
He immediately announced that China and Australia will continue to expand free trade cooperation in service trade and investment, and import more quality and cheap agricultural products such as chilled beef.
"Although I have not eaten Australian beef today, it will not shake our determination to expand our openness." In the audience's laughter and applause, Li Keqiang continued, "We just want to give Chinese consumers more choices. To increase the level of China's agriculture in competition and cooperation. All countries in the world should do this so that they can play their comparative advantages and achieve a win-win situation in peace and competition."
Detail 5: "Reform and Opening" and "Free Trade"
When talking about “opening”, Turnbull stated that China’s Deng Xiaoping said that a country with reforms and opening up will be powerful and prosperous, and that a country that retreats from one country to the other will be weak and backward. "This sentence also applies to Australia."
“China’s transformation over the past 40 years is one of the most important and exciting developments in the world.” Turnbull said, “We must work together to counter the rise of protectionism. I believe that in this era of change, China can Make a major contribution to global peace and prosperity."
“The rise of trade protectionism in the world today is an upsurge of anti-globalization. We do not deny that there will be one or the other problem in the process of globalization. But the problem is not globalization and free trade itself, but rather our coping style.” Li Keqiang Emphasizing that "our cooperation with the Australian series is to show our determination to the region and to the world and jointly issue a strong signal to safeguard the liberalization of global trade."
Detail 6: "Zheng He's Voyages" and "Peaceful Development"
Turnbull spoke in his speech about the story of Zheng He's "West Asia" during the Ming Dynasty in China. Li Keqiang later responded that it was several hundred years ago that China was still in the era of empire. When Zheng He was departed, he asked the Chinese emperor at the time. What was my mission? The emperor replied: “For peace. For friendship! (For peace, for friendship!)”
“In China’s history, there is a tradition of “consummation”,” said Li. “We are now firmly committed to the path of peaceful development. We are not only inheriting traditions but also based on China’s realities and future interests, and are more in line with human civilization. direction."
Li Keqiang said that China is still a developing country. To enable people to lead a happy life, it is fundamentally necessary to develop the economy and improve people's livelihood. He declared: "China's development needs peace. Even if China becomes stronger in the future, it will never follow the road of "national power must be hegemony!"
Detail 7: "Indigenous Dance" and "Civilization Diversity"
When Li Keqiang stepped into the banquet hall, Australian aborigines dressed in red-and-brown traditional clothes and cheeks and white-painted bodies stepped on traditional music drums to welcome the Chinese Premier who had come from afar. The Australian Aboriginal people used the indigenous language to express their sympathy to Li Keqiang and his wife. "Welcome welcome and welcome."
During the banquet, Australian Prime Minister Turnbull gave a speech at the same time as opposition leader Shawton and expressed his thanks to the indigenous people and Australians for their tremendous contributions to the development of Australia.
“I sincerely respect Australia’s respect for the diversity of civilizations.” Li Keqiang said, “This is a multi-generational world. I visited this time for the diversity of civilizations and the mutual respect of Sino-Australian cooperation.”
Detail 8: "Australian Football" and "Selected Side Team"
Li Keqiang emphasized that deepening Sino-Australian cooperation must be based on mutual respect. China adheres to an independent foreign policy, adheres to the road of development that suits its national conditions, and respects Australia’s choice of foreign policy.
“We do not want to see the 'election team' in the Cold War era. We are willing to solve the problem in accordance with the UN Charter and the various rules and consensus that have already been formed,” said Li.
In an earlier speech, opposition leader Xiao Dun mentioned that the Chinese and Australian Prime Ministers will jointly attend an Australian-style rugby event in Sydney. Li Keqiang therefore asked Xiao Dun: "I don't know which team Mr. Shotton is a fan of? But please rest assured that I will not ‘choose to stand side by side in the game’. No matter which team wins, I will cheer!”
After Li Keqiang's impromptu speech ended, the audience used the prolonged applause to send the Chinese premier back to his seat.
An Australian senior official on the scene told the Chinese Minister sitting next to him: "This is the best speech I have heard in the past two years!"