2015 delegate, biophysicist, UNSW. A frenetic meeting of minds, at a relentless pace, with absolutely everyone contributing from different angles towards a complex multifaceted future of Australia-China relations.

Professor Richard Rigby Executive Director, ANU China Institute Professorial Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy Associate Director, Centre on China in the World (CIW) ACYD was established to promote bilateral, institutional dialogue between Australia and China through both government and non-government organisations. ACYD has been remarkably successful in that regard.

ACYD is not only a five-day dialogue for me. It builds a lively Australia in my mind, bringing together good friends and distinguished academics to explore our future growth potential. During ACYD 2013, we had a tight but engaging schedule. Speakers shared wonderful ideas on various fields of interest to our two countries. Throughout the Dialogue it was always amazing to talk to the more than 30 delegates and organisers, who were from different backgrounds with unique experience.

The Australia China Youth Dialogue is an important institution… [The Youth Dialogue] is probably in many ways more important because it’s really for a new generation of forward looking young men and women to work for a more stable and peaceful and economically developing Asia Pacific region.

When I first worked in Australia in the late 1980s, Australia’s then Prime Minister Bob  Hawke said that for the country to succeed it needed to be prepared to enmesh itself with the dynamism of our region, the Asia Pacific region.

Today, China is Australia’s largest trading partner, our largest export market, our largest source of fee-paying students and of tourists, and one of its largest sources of direct foreign investment.

Given the massive economic dependency Australia has on China, it’s clear from recent events that a more sustained effort has to be put into framing the relationship properly. To achieve this I believe there needs to be increased and sustained dialogue and engagement across all levels of society.

An organisation like the Australia China Youth Dialogue plays an important role in making that happen, and I applaud the initiatives that our young leaders have taken to develop China-Australia relations by bringing together key people from both sides to forge deeper understanding and connections for the future.

中澳青年对话”是一个无与伦比的活动!」这样说足以说明这是我参加过最高水平的国际青年会议! 一周的思想盛宴,让你身处世界的顶端,看到不一样的画面!你将遇见世界级的讲者, 如澳大利亚驻北京大使,联合国发展计划中国总监, JP Morgan中国全球市场董事总经理兼主席等. 内容广泛,从政治,国际关系,经济商业,文化艺术, 环境保育,能源,非牟利发展,社会创新等均一一涵盖.从他们对于中澳关系的宏观看法,并与之深入交流,你将得到无法想像的思想冲击,激荡和启发!我对于“中澳青年对话”的深爱还来自于中澳两方各个专业的代表,与其高水平的交流,分享大家的不同观点,信念与价值,如何达到协同效应.我們現在正在共同撰写一份文件, 希望可以启发未来中澳关系的友好发展!“中澳青年对话”不单是一个交流活动,而是一个共同探索的旅程,现在这个旅程才刚要 开始!

ACYD far exceeded my expectations. It was a thought-provoking five days that examined issues from politics, economics and law to culture and sports. This encouraged me to broaden my understanding of the Australia-China relationship, and inspired me to re-affirm my commitment to it. I cannot speak highly enough of the diverse range of speakers, delegates and organisers. While all incredibly intelligent and high-achieving, they were also a lot of fun (which lead to much sleep-deprivation as one would often go out in the evenings after a full day of dialogue). The locations selected and events organised were also superb: Capital M Restaurant in Beijing, Taichi in Jingshan Park, Chengdu Panda Base, Tainfu Software Park, the list goes on. I cannot recommend ACYD enough to any young person who has an interest in the Australia-China relationship. You will learn a lot, you will meet amazing individuals, you will make fantastic friends, and ultimately you will be inspired.

Seven days with no sleep, no peace, a blizzard of ideas, personalities and language. It made foie gras of my previously fairly healthy mind, force fed on a diet of eureka moments, chilli and the occasional beer. As a self-proclaimed Sinophile who has not had a decent bowl of dandanmian in seven years, ACYD gave me the opportunity to talk with the people who are currently doing the deals, framing the big questions and pioneering new aspects of the Australia-China relationship. More importantly, I ate frog, sang karaoke, practiced tai chi, cracked bad jokes, exchanged cringe worthy dance moves and pretended to be sophisticated with a group of truly excellent young and youngish people from Australia and China. By the end of the week, I was like an eight year old being dragged home from the Easter Show, tired, emotional, but thinking of every type of scheme I could imagine so I could stay in China with my new friends just a little longer.

It’s funny when I just count the days. The whole ACYD activities only went on for five days, but it has since become a referencing point for me ever since. Hardly a day or two go by without hearing interesting things from the delegates and organisers. And the circle just keeps getting larger and larger. I never could imagine meeting so many interesting people who share similar interests with myself. The ACYD is like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Weibo, Wikipedia, Big Bang Theory and all the good stuff combined and squeezed in a 3-dimensional reality bombshell – it’s ADDICTIVE, but in a good way.