Leader who sowed seeds of trust

China's then-President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam at a state dinner in Sydney in this September 5, 2007 file photo. [Photo/Agencies]

China is mourning the loss of a dear old friend - former Australian prime minister Gough Whitlam, who died on Tuesday, a man who will always be remembered as a major figure in China-Australia relations.

Australia mourns its former PM

For more than 40 years, Whitlam's name has been etched into the annals of China's history, as one of the Western leaders who made a difference in Australia's relationship with the Asian country.

Decades after then-Chinese premier Zhou Enlai and Whitlam established diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1972, Whitlam continued to receive regular visits from Chinese diplomats and politicians.

Whitlam's efforts in forging diplomatic relations with Chinese leaders Mao Zedong and premier Zhou were the single most important event in relations between China and Australia in the 20th century, and remain the foundation of the relationship today.

They sowed the seeds of trust and mutual respect, which overcame fear and suspicion. It became a time for friendship and trade to flourish.

Whitlam strongly believed in the importance of closer ties with China. In 1954, Whitlam, who was then an member of Parliament, said: "It is about time that ... we recognized the communist government of China."

In 1971, Whitlam visited China as the opposition leader, where he met Zhou in his first meaningful contact with Chinese leaders since the People's Republic of China was established in 1949.

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