Opening-up: The view from down under

Australia's first ambassador to the People's Republic of China reflects on decades of transformation

Editor's note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of China's reform and opening-up policy. China Daily talks to some people from overseas who have experienced or witnessed the important drive.

When Stephen FitzGerald arrived in Beijing to take up his post as Australia's first ambassador to the People's Republic of China in April 1973, he was entering a country on the threshold of monumental change.