"Who are over 70 years old here? Who are over 65 years old?" Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council asked over 300 representatives from overseas Chinese compatriots, students and Chinese-funded enterprises on April 3, 2006.

Some raised their hands. Premier Wen went up to help an old man by the arm and led him to the seat beside him. He then said to the 6 accompanying ministers and vice ministers, "all ministers, please stand up and offer your seats to the elders." So except the elders sitting in the seats reserved for taking group photos, all the people present listened to Wen's remarks, standing all along.

The whole audience applauded the Premier coming from a nation with a tradition of respecting the elders.

In the subsequent speech, Wen introduced to the audience the achievements of his visit to Australia, the development of China and issues of great concern to overseas Chinese in Australia.

He said that his visit to Australia was a success. The leaders of both countries have clearly defined the all-round cooperative relations featuring mutual benefits and win-win results. The two countries will continue to develop bilateral economic and trade cooperation in an all-round manner and strengthen the exchange between the cultural societies. The leaders of the two countries reached common consensus on a wide range of regional and international issues and will consolidate cooperation on related issues. Wen also shared new headways of bilateral ties with the representatives, who got increasingly inspired by Wen's remarks.

The amazingly fast growth of China for nearly 3 decades is unprecedented in the world. Can China maintain such high growth rate? Premier Wen answered this question firmly and resolutely, saying, "We can make it despite of certain difficulties." With this being said, the hall immediately resounded with a long storm of applause.

Wen said that he had missed home though he was abroad only for a few days. Then he recited the Song of a Wanderer and many representatives cannot help reciting it together with him. Wen commented emotionally, "Probably the ones who left hometowns for long missed the motherland the most." Another long storm of applause followed.

Premier Wen's 40-minute speech was interrupted by the long applause for 7 times.

"We are overwhelmingly attracted by Premier Wen's remarks." "It's touching." "It's insightful." Many representatives cannot wait for the interviews to express their feelings.

The representatives of overseas Chinese compatriots and students received by Premier Wen came from different states of Australia with the distance to Canberra ranging from a few hundred kilometers to a few thousand kilometers.

Qiu Weilian, Chairman of Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China told reporters that the overseas Chinese have been long looking forward to Premier Wen's visit to Sydney where most of overseas Chinese in Australia concentrate. Unfortunately, only a small number of them had the honor of coming to Canberra to listen to the Premier's speech.

Zhou Xuerong, Secretary General of the Federation of Chinese Scholars in Australia (FOCSA) said that the speech of the Premier showing great attention and concern to farmers and vulnerable groups fully demonstrates the Chinese government's policy of putting people first. Meanwhile, I am also inspired by the Premier's remarks concerning the prospects of China's economy.

Yan Zhongwang, President of Federation of Chinese Community of Canberra Inc. said that under the new collective leadership, China has achieved tremendous economic and social development, for which overseas Chinese also feel happy. He wished that China could become a real power in the world.