On the evening of 13 October 2025, the "Passion for Jiangsu, Lighting Up Sydney" grand arts performance for the Australian Chinese community, held together with the inaugural assembly of the Nanjing University of the Arts Australia Alumni Association, took place at Sydney Town Hall and was a resounding success!

With thanks to the guidance of the Nanjing Public Diplomacy Association, the event was hosted by the Sydney Nanjing Chamber of Commerce Australia and Nanjing University of the Arts, co-hosted by the NSW Jiangsu Chamber of Commerce Australia, and co-organised by the Australia Jiangsu General Chamber of Commerce, the Nanjing University of the Arts Alumni Association, the Nanjing University of the Arts International Exchange Office, and its School of Music. ACCIA, as one of the supporting and sponsoring organisations, was honoured to help present an artistic feast blending Chinese and Western culture, as well as a grand showcase of the cohesion and vitality of the Chinese community in Australia.

Guests Gather, Stars Illuminate the Opening Ceremony. At six in the evening, Sydney Town Hall was ablaze with light and filled with distinguished guests. The evening was co-hosted by well-known hosts Annie and Jia Xiaolong.

The event opened solemnly to the national anthems of the People's Republic of China and the Commonwealth of Australia, symbolising Australia-China friendship and cultural harmony. Distinguished figures from political, business and academic circles gathered on site, and the following important guests were honoured to attend:

Australian representatives:

• Mark Robert Buttigieg — Member of the Legislative Council, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism, Special Representative of the NSW Premier.
• Jordan Lane — Shadow Assistant Minister for Transport and Roads, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multiculturalism.
• Helen Sham-Ho — Australia's first Chinese-Australian Member of Parliament, former Deputy President of the NSW Legislative Council.
• Cai Dingjie — Mayor of Strathfield.
• Liu Naxin — Georges River Councillor and Deputy Mayor.
• Andrew Ferguson — City of Canada Bay Councillor.
• Simon Chan — National Council Member of the Australian Multicultural Council (Australian Government), and Chair of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board.
• Larissa Behrendt — Executive Chair of Australia's National Higher Education Commission.
• Andrew Parfitt — Vice-Chancellor of the University of Technology Sydney.
• Craig Isherwood — National Secretary of the Australian Citizens Party.
• Noelene Isherwood — Member of the National Management Committee of the Australian Citizens Party.
• Sandra Pires — noted Australian director.

Chinese representatives:

• Yu Feng — Deputy to the Jiangsu Provincial People's Congress, Party Secretary of Nanjing University of the Arts, and Director of the National Committee for the Examination and Approval of Art Terminology.
• Counsellor Lin Xiaoqing and Consul Mao Yafang, Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney.
• Yuan Wei, Director, and Zhu Yueqiang, Deputy Director, of the China Cultural Center in Sydney under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
• Ma Lei, Chief Representative in Australia of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).
• Xu Jun, President of the Australia Jiangsu General Chamber of Commerce.
• Yao Hongbing, President of the Sydney Nanjing Chamber of Commerce Australia.

Amid warm applause, the Nanjing University of the Arts Australia Alumni Association was formally unveiled and established.

This marks a brand-new, tangible home for NUA alumni in Australia, and will further promote exchange and development in Australia-China arts education.

A Moment of Honour: Paying Tribute to Sponsors and Co-organisers. To thank the various organisations for their strong support of the event, a special honours segment was held during the evening. The organisers presented honorary plaques and certificates to a number of co-organising bodies and outstanding enterprise groups, including ACCIA, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to promoting Australia-China cultural exchange and community prosperity. This honour was not only a thank-you for the generous support of partners from all sectors, but also a shared aspiration to build a better future together.

ACCIA was honoured to receive the Special Contribution Award, with Chairman Su accepting the award on behalf of the Alliance.

An Artistic Feast: Passion for Jiangsu Lights Up Sydney. The evening's programme was a truly star-studded lineup, bringing together top artists and arts groups from both China and Australia.

From the tender, melodious strains of the NUA Carnival theme song "I Love NUA, I Love Nanjing" to the sweeping grandeur of the group dance "Ode to Spring"; from the lilting flute of Professor Ye Hongqi to the moving Peking opera "The Drunken Concubine" performed by Professor Wu Yan; and on to the traditional Chinese instrumental ensemble of the Sydney Huahai Orchestra and the choral performance of "China in Lights" by the Sydney Weisheng Zhiyin Choir…

One outstanding performance followed another, treating an audience of nearly a thousand to a high-calibre feast for the eyes and ears, with applause echoing throughout the hall. Highlights Keep Coming: Charity Auction and Lucky Draw. The evening's dedicated charity auction segment combined warmth with excitement.

Bidders raised their paddles enthusiastically, not only for artworks they admired, but also to lend their support to the preservation and development of Chinese culture and arts in Australia. The charitable spirit of "together, a blazing fire; apart, a sky full of stars" found perfect expression in that moment.

The multiple rounds of lucky draws that followed pushed the atmosphere to another peak.

Generous prizes such as fine wines and international return flights delighted guests time and again, with many exclaiming they could barely carry all their winnings.

The most moving moment of all came when the grand prize was announced: after ACCIA Chairman Su won a lucky AU$2,888 cash red packet, he immediately announced he would pass this good fortune on to the host organisation, the Sydney Nanjing Chamber of Commerce Australia, as a gesture of thanks and support for the organising committee's hard work.

This generous gesture drew the warmest and longest applause of the night, reflecting the broad-mindedness of our Alliance's leadership and their firm commitment to community development. Raising Glasses Together, Drawing Up a New Chapter of Cooperation. As the stage lights dimmed for a moment, the hall took on another warm and convivial atmosphere.

Amid the clinking of glasses, leaders from political and business circles, prominent figures in culture and the arts, distinguished academics, and representatives of overseas Chinese community groups from both Australia and China sat side by side, catching up warmly with one another.

Sparks of ideas flew as conversations unfolded, and opportunities for cooperation took shape amid the laughter, with Sydney Town Hall filled with warmth and shared hope for a win-win future.

The success of this major "Passion for Jiangsu, Lighting Up Sydney" event would not have been possible without the concerted efforts of all co-hosting, co-organising and sponsoring organisations.

As an organisation long committed to serving as a bridge for Australia-China trade, economic and cultural exchange, our Alliance was deeply honoured to take part in, and bear witness to, this major event for the Chinese community.

Looking ahead, ACCIA will continue to fulfil its mission, supporting a wider range of cultural activities, bringing together the hearts and strength of the overseas Chinese community, and contributing further to deepening Australia-China friendship and cooperation!

Australia-China Commerce and Industry Alliance Luo Dan