A new Chinese language daily newspaper, Australian New Express, was officially launched in Sydney on Wednesday. It is the first newspaper group from China to expand into western countries, and is regarded as a milestone in the history of Chinese press, CRI.com reported Wednesday.

CRI's Australia correspondent, Wu Jia, was at the inaugural ceremony and filed this report:

The Australian New Express is owned by the Guangdong based Kingold Group Companies Limited and the Yangcheng Evening News with its brand-name and resources.

Chau Chak Wing, head of Kingold Group, says as China's economy develops and exchanges between China and Australia increase in many areas, more and more people from China are coming to Australia to study and work. He says the Chinese language daily newspaper is designed to serve the Chinese community in Australia, and provide them information on a broad range of local, national and international issues, especially news from China, their motherland.

"With its headquarter in Sydney, our newspaper will play a very active role in supporting the multi-cultural policy of the Australian government and promote friendship and cooperation between China and Australia. Our aim is to build a very solid foundation for the Australian New Express daily, and gradually expand distribution across Australia, to Europe, the US and around the world. Wherever in the world there is Chinese community, they will have the opportunity to have the fastest and latest news."

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, who was at the launch of the newspaper, congratulated Kingold Group and Yangcheng Evening News for their vision. He says a vibrant Chinese media is very much needed in the city.

"We have a major Chinese community. Chinese is the NO.2 language in Sydney. The first Chinese newspaper in Sydney was before federation, before the Australian constitution existed, before we had a national government. That was in 1894. That's important because it reminds us that the Chinese are the oldest and the most significant non-English speaking group in Australia. The Chinese presence in Sydney, the Chinese character goes back a long way."

Liao Zhihong, consul-general of China in Sydney, says hundreds of thousands of Chinese now live in Australia. They've made great contributions to economic and social development in Australia as well as the development of Sino-Australian relations. The Chinese community needs more information and more newspapers in their native language.

"The Chinese in Australia want to know China. Also they want to know better about Australia, and what's happening in the world. The Australian New Express comes at a good time. It will give the Chinese community prompt information about what's happening in their native place, and give them information about economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries. It will serve as a bridge to enhance friendship between the two peoples. "

(Xinhua News Agency July 1, 2004)