On 8 September, 2022 Chinese Film Week sponsored by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Australia and Australian National University and ANU Film Group kicked off in the Gallery Cultural Centre, ANU. Nearly two hundred people participated in the opening ceremony, including Ambassador Xiao Qian, Chinese Mission in Australia, representatives from Australian departments of foreign affairs, culture, business and trade, science and technology, leaders of overseas Chinese community, Chinese students and people of all sectors in Australia. Representatives of the first group of students from SDU-ANU Joint Science College studying in ANU, Chen Xiaowen, Qiu Xiwen, Li Yixuan and Cui Zhenchi were invited to attend the ceremony.
The film week lasted six days with six recent films presented in Chinese with English subtitles, including a historical war film (The Eight Hundred), an award-winning film reflecting social reality (Hi, Mom), an inspiring story of 20-year-old orphan (Nice View) and a heartfelt tale of sisterly love (Sister).
At the ceremony, Prof. Sally Wheeler, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, ANU delivered a speech, saying that it was a great pleasure to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Australia and China in ANU by hosting this film week. Films reflect diverse cultures of different countries and inspire people to explore the world. The Chinese films are like a window for the ANU students to understand China and get exposed to the Chinese culture, which will promote the exchange and cooperation between the two partners.
Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian stated in his speech that 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides. The past five decades have witnessed fruitful cooperation in such fields as culture, education and science and technology. He looked forward to making joint efforts with the Australian side to promote sound development of the bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
As representatives of the JSC students studying in ANU, the four student ambassadors introduced to the people from many countries’ embassies in Australia and people of all sectors in Canberra SDU-ANU Joint Science College, ANU’s biggest partnership in China as a Sino-foreign cooperative educational institution resulting from the joint endeavour of Shandong University and Australian National University, the two world renowned universities with complementary strengths. The unique partnership where ANU and SDU have come together to create a world-class learning opportunity for students provides a good platform for advanced cultural and academic exchanges between the two countries. They have not only experienced ANU’s open and inclusive culture as well as free and advanced academic atmosphere, but also have the opportunity to attend the Chinese film week in person communicating with people of all sectors in Australia with self-confidence in Chinese culture, which is of great benefit to them.
