Chongqing - From Oct 25 to 27, a high-profile delegation of Australian leaders from politics, business, education, and culture visited Chongqing to explore the city's rapid development and evolving urban landscape. The visit, marked by cultural exchange and historical reflection, highlighted the growing ties between Australia and China.

Led by John Leslie Lander, the first Deputy Ambassador of Australia to China, the delegation toured iconic sites including Jiefangbei, Liziba Monorail Station, and the former Australian Legation. Lander, whose in-laws served in wartime Chongqing between 1944 and 1946, expressed his astonishment at the city’s transformation. “I once thought it was impossible to build roads here,” he said. “But Chongqing has achieved the impossible.”

Robert William Barwick, Chairman of the Australian Citizens Party, echoed the sentiment. He recalled first hearing of Chongqing through an article in an Australian newspaper titled The Biggest City You’ve Never Heard Of. “Now I’ve seen it myself,” he said. “It’s a dynamic, advanced metropolis—more populous than our entire country. The hospitality of the Chinese people, especially toward Australians, is unmatched.”

The delegation’s itinerary included visits to Liziba, Ciqikou Ancient Town, the Liangjiang Collaborative Innovation Zone, and meetings with Chongqing’s municipal departments. These engagements offered firsthand insight into the city’s innovation, ecological planning, and international cooperation.

The visit not only celebrated historical connections, such as Australia’s wartime presence in Chongqing, but also opened new avenues for bilateral collaboration in culture, technology, and urban development.

“Come and see China for yourself!” Barwick urged his fellow Australians back home.