KATHERINE’S impressive representative at the 2012 Australia China Youth Dialogue, which took place in Beijing and Chengdu Province last month, Elizabeth Payne, 30, has returned home feeling enthused about the role she was able to play representing Territorians on a world stage.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“It was just amazing,” Ms Payne (pictured) said.
“I met the Ambassador to China, as well as the former Ambassador.
“Roundtable discussions included dialogue around economics, politics and social challenges and opportunities.
“Three of the days were spent in Beijing. In addition to the sessions we did TaiChi in Jinshang Park, visited some hutongs (traditional Chinese housing), Confucian temples, and the historical Red Gate Gallery,” Ms Payne said.
“During the following two days in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, we visited the Giant Panda Research Centre, a software park, and a traditional Chinese tea house.”
“It was all very timely given the White Paper on Australia in the Asian Century was only released last week,” Ms Payne, who is on a short term contract working with the Northern Territory Government, said.
“Now over the next few months, the Australian and Chinese delegates will be drafting submissions for the next Australian White Paper and to the Chinese Government... I feel I will bring real tangible experience to this process given my experience with Government, the UNHCR, APEC and the World Health Organisation."
Ms Payne said that she felt privileged to be one of fifteen Australian representatives to be chosen out of about 600 who applied to attend the dialogue.
“I found out that I am also the very first delegate to represent the Northern Territory – and Katherine,” she said.
“Hopefully we’ll see a lot more Territorians applying in future years – I believe that the NT has a lot of talent that would provide a valuable contribution to these types of Forums.”
