At 15:00, Aug.,24th, the Kick-Off Ceremony for the Chinese members of environmental protection expedition of Australia-China Desert Adventure (the Australian Phase) was held in Sun Yat-sen’s Memorial Hall, Guangzhou. Liao Hui, the vice chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the president of China-Oceania Friendship Association, Li Xiaolin, the preisdent of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Zhao Yufang, the deputy governor of Guangdong Province, Cao Jianliao, the deputy mayor of Guangzhou City, Jian Wenhao, the vice chairman of Guangzhou Committee of CPPCC, Jill Collins, the consul-general of the Consulate General of Australia in Guangzhou and Zhou Zerong, the president of Association of Australia-China Friendship and Exchange (AACFE) were present.

Australia-China Desert Adventure is co-sponsored by the CPAFFC and AACFE, which is aiming for deepening the bilateral relation and promoting the exchange and cooperation in culture, tourism, environmental protection, by taking the 40th anniversary of establishment of China-Australia diplomatic relations as a favorable opportunity. The expeditions will explore through the inland deserts in Australia and Kumukuli Desert in Xinjiang, China.

President Li Xiaolin Addressing the Ceremony

In her speech, President Li Xiaolin said, since China and Australia established diplomatic relation 40 years ago, the bilateral relation had developed steadily and the exchange of high-level visits had taken place frequently; the bilateral economy and trading between China and Australia was continuously developing and keeping a good momentum. She wished this activity of desert adventure would lift the cultural and economic exchanges between China and Australia to a new stage. At the same time, she wished this activity would provide a platform of exchanges and cooperation for the human’s in-depth understanding on global desertification and protecting our homeland——the earth. Deputy Governor Zhao Yufang, Deputy Mayor Cao Jianliao, Consul-General Jill Collins and President Zhou Zerong also stepped onto the stage, to bolster the departure of the explorers by making speech ,toasting and conferring flags.

After the kick-off ceremony, the warriors took the flight on that night, to go to Sydney and formally start their 15 days’s desert adventure.