I12
MEDIA RELEASE EMBARGOD TIO 6.15 PM
ADDRESS BY THE ACTING PRIME MiNISTER, THE RT. HON. J. D. ANTHONY,
M. P. AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE QIN SHIHUANG
EXHIBITION, NATIONAL ART GALLEY OF VICTORIA, MELBOURNE, 21
DECEMBER, 1983.
Sir Andrew Grimwade, representatives of the ' Government of
the People's Republic of China, Mr. Mathews, Mr. Kennett, Lord
Mayor, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I am very
pleased to be here tonight and to have the privilege I believe
it is a very real privilege of officially opening this unique
exhibition. It is one of the most important staged in Australia. And it
will, I am certain, have enormous impact on those who come to see
it, here in Melbourne and in the other cities to which the
exhibition will travel.
I think very few people could fail to be stirred by the
glimpse this exhibition provides of life in China 2,000 years
ago, under one of the most remarkable figures of Chinese history
the emperor Qin Shihuang. The exhibition vividly brings to life
the culture of that period in China's history, its richness, its
individuality and its artistic skill and development. Through
this exhibition, we are able to learn something of a great
Emperor, and a great period in China's history. In addition, we
can see, in the life-size terra cotta statues that are the
centrepiece of this exhibition, the faces of the people of China
at that time because the faces were modelled on those of
individual soldiers throughout the empire.
The discovery from which this exhibition comes is one of the
most remarkable in the history of archaeology. This is the first
exhibition devoted exclusively to the find to travel outside
China, and to allow such an important exhibition to come here is
a most generous gesture by the Government of the People's
Republic of China.
It is most fitting, also, that this exhibition should
coincide with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between Australia and China. Ten years ago,
there was virtually no contact between our two countries, either
at the political or private level. Our knowledge and
understanding of China and the Chinese people were extremely
limited. The estabiishitcent of diplomatic relations was, in a
very real way, the start of a change in our perception of China
and its place in the orld. To the gcod fortune of both our
peoples, I think, it also came at a time when China itself was
z.
looking to end its isolation, and assume a more active role in
Sworld affairs.
Today, we have significant and broadly-based relations with
China. Trade is substantial, and can be expected to grow. There
has been a steady growth of contracts and exchanges between
Australia and China in many fields. These include agriculture,
technology, science, the arts, education, journalism, legal
studies, health and sport. Politically, the relationship has
developed to a point where we now share many common views on
important international and regional issues.
Our Prime Minister has paid two visits to China, and I have
also been there, in 1979. When our Prime Minister was last in
Peking, he invited the Chinese Premier to visit Australia, and I
am delighted that the Premicr has been able to accept. We look
forward to extending a warm welcome to him when he arrives as a
guest of the Australian Government next April, and I believe his
visit will mark an important stage in the development of
Srelations between our two countries.
The process of developing those relations is also furthered
by this exhibition. Two earlier Chinese exhibitions the
archaeological exhibition of 1976 and last year's exhibition of
Chinese classical paintings have already been highly acclaimed
in Australia. I am sure this exhibition, indemnified by the
Australian Government for $ 21.4 million, will win an equally warm
and broad reception.
Again, I thank the Government of the People's Republic of
China for allowing the 10th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between our two countries to be celebrated
in this way. I thank all those who have been involved in
bringing this exhibition to Australia. My thanks go particularly
to Mr. Jim Leslie, Chairman of the International Culture
Corporation, for the corporation's role in : anaging this
exhibition. They go also to Mr. George Pusack, Chairman and
Managing Director of Mobil Oil Australia, which is the sole
sponsor of this exhibition, as it was for the 1976 exhibition.
I now have pleasure in declaring this exhibition officially
open.