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

There were six addresses from officials:
H.E. Chen Yuming, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to 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. He Yafei, Deputy Minister of Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of P.R.China), Leader of ‘Cultures of China Festival of Spring’ Art Group to Oceania.

After the photographic session and presentation of certificates of appreciation, 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. 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.
The Hon Shelley Hancock MP, Speaker of NSW Legislative Assembly.
Mr Daryl Maguire MP, Government Whip, Chairman of Asia Pacific Friendship Group.
The Hon Amanda Fazio MLC, Opposition Whip in NSW Legislative Council.
The Hon. Linda Burney, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation.
Ms Sonia Hornery MP, Member for Wallsend.
Mr Jonathan O'Dea MP, Member for Davidson
Mr Charles Casuscelli RFD, MP, Member for Strathfield
Dr Geoffrey Lee MP, Member for Parramatta.
Mr Mark Coure MP, Member for Oatley
Mr Sam Dastyari, NSW Labor General Secretary.
Mr David Walsh, State Director of NSW Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Dr Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chairman of the Community Relations Commission
Mr Jim Harrowell AM, President of Australia China Business Council (NSW)
Ms Hu Xiaolan, Deputy Consul-General of the PRC in Sydney
Mr Liu Kan, Deputy Consul-General of the PRC in Sydney
Mr Steve Barclay, Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Government of the HKSAR
......

Ladies and gentlemen, good evening!

We have just farewelled the year of the Dragon and now welcome the year of the Snake with open arms. At such an occasion, please allow me on behalf of ACPPRC, to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to all our supporters over the years. To name just a few: The official bipartisan representation from Federal and State levels, the representatives from the Chinese Government and all the community organisations. Furthermore, all of our ACPPRC honorary chairpersons, advisors, committee members, members, staff and partners, the ‘Eyes on China’ medical team, teachers and all the friends who have tirelessly supported us through the thick and the thin. I would like to wish everyone here a very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year.

We have just ushered in the Year of the Snake and during these celebrations H.E. Yafei He, the Deputy Minister of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, has led a team of Performing Artists of the "Cultures of China, Festival of Spring" to perform in Sydney Town Hall. The overwhelming love and thoughtfulness of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of the P.R.China have brought them to Sydney to perform specially for us here in Sydney. I would like to wish the Chinese New Year Performing Arts Concert a great success!

2012 has been a very eventful year. Reminiscing over the past year, it has not been easy and we have had to overcome many hurdles. We are very happy and proud of our achievements, none of which would have been possible without the support from the Australian and Chinese government of all levels, and the help from the Chinese Embassy in Canberra and Consulate General in Sydney. Not least the tremendous support from all community organisations and most important of all the relentless sacrifices from all the members of ACPPRC.

2012 was indeed a very special year for us. It saw ACPPRC successfully co-hosted the Summit Forum of the 40th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations between Australia and China with NSW Parliament Asia Pacific Friendship Group. We were privileged to have the Hon. Bob Carr, Foreign Minister; H.E. Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW; the Hon. Barry O'Farrel MP, Premier of New South Wales; Mr Daryl Maguire MP, the Hon. Victor Dominello MP as our keynote speakers. We were also honored to have had overseas speakers from China Mainland, Taiwan and Macau. The Summit was received very well by the attendees praising its effectiveness, professionalism and scope.

Dear friends, this beautiful new year ahead of us will be filled with its own opportunities and challenges. let us work hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder and forge a better way forward to what is a new start, a new journey and a new hope.

May we all wish a better future for Australia, a better future for China and I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

Thank you.