China’s 60th comes to Sydney

While massed soldiers, tanks and missiles paraded through Tiananmen Square for the crowds in Beijing, the 60th Anniversary of Communist rule was celebrated in Sydney by a flag-raising ceremony in St Andrews Square.

A crowd of Chinese locals, many adorned with temporary tattoos of their flag, sang the National Anthems of China and Australia while the flag of each country was raised. They also carried a giant replica of each flag, the vivid red of one contrasting perfectly with the vivid blue of the other, bringing a sense of life and pageantry to the occasion.

The speeches, featuring Councillor Robert Kok, were about friendly relations and business co-operation, highlighting the role of China’s powerhouse economy in alleviating the global recession and boosting Australia’s export earnings, as well as Sydney’s economy.

“The flag raising ceremony was a success and builds on Sydney’s relations with China. It adds to our reputation of a friendly city and encourages tourism and delegation visits. This gives the local economy a great financial boost,” said Cr Kok.

“The ceremony was very well attended by Chinese students as they make up a large proportion of the overseas student group,” he said.

China’s massive infrastructure programs, focusing the country’s centre and west, have maintained strong demand for energy, iron ore, coal and other minerals from Australia. Speakers at last week’s Australia-China Investment Forum in Sydney pointed out that China’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction programs also provided new business opportunities for Australia.

There was some visual irony at the ceremony. The Chinese flag rose and flew in the wind, framed colourfully against sky signs for Energy Australia and Meriton. The Australian flag, however, was surrounded by the branches of a large Plane Tree and hung limp.

by Michael Gormly