On June 30, Dr Wei Chaoyi, the esteemed former representative of the Melbourne Office Tianjin (MOTJ), concluded his distinguished service, leaving behind a legacy of over 20 years.

Dr Wei Chaoyi, former representative of the Melbourne Office Tianjin [Photo provided to en.tj.gov.cn]

Dr Wei has made significant contributions to fostering friendly exchanges between Melbourne and Chinese cities, as well as promoting bilateral exchanges in the government and business sectors.

Melbourne and Tianjin established a sister city relationship in 1980, marking the first such partnership between Australia and China. The groundwork for this relationship was laid in 1979, when a young official from the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People's Government played a pivotal role in the discussions.

The young official later became the first exchange student from Tianjin at the University of Melbourne, building a bridge between the two cities that would endure for decades. This enterprising young man was Dr Wei Chaoyi.

Over the years, Dr Wei has excelled in various industries, forging strong connections between Melbourne and China through business and cultural exchanges.

As he handed over the baton to Bonnie Shao, Dr Wei reflected on his career, calling it a "lucky and unique" journey. He said that he has always been proud and satisfied to help Melbourne and Tianjin gain more and more tangible benefits, which has always given him a great sense of accomplishment.

Wei's efforts have been widely recognized. In 1998, he was awarded the title of "Distinguished Resident" by the Mayor of Melbourne. In 2020, he received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) at the Government House, a testament to his invaluable contributions to the development of sister city relations.