President Xi Jinping found time in the hectic schedule during his three-day state visit to Australia to inaugurate the Canberra Beijing Garden on Monday.

The garden next to Lake Burley Griffin in Lennox Gardens is a gift from Beijing's municipal government to its sister city, Canberra, to mark the Australian capital's 100th anniversary. It symbolizes the enduring friendship between the two countries and peoples.

Ma Zhaoxu, China's ambassador to Australia, hailed it as a perfect blend of Chinese cultural elements and Australia's natural environment.

"I have no doubt this garden will rival any other garden in the world, and will enable generations of Canberra residents to experience the friendship between China and Australia in the years to come," he said.

The garden covers more than 9,000 square meters and is close to Australia's Parliament House and the Chinese embassy. It combines elements of traditional Chinese gardens with features often found in Australian gardens.

The design is said to embody the harmony between man and nature, as well as the traditional Chinese philosophy of putting aside differences and seeking common ground.

Completion of the project coincided with the 14th anniversary of the sister city agreement, and both sides praised the team that created the garden in just five months.

Beijing sent craftsmen to carry out landscaping and to build a marble and timber grand pavilion and entrance gate, sculptures, paths and rock gardens.

The Canberra Times said, "When it comes to delivering projects on time, the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) government could learn a thing or two from its counterparts in Beijing if the speed of work to create the new Chinese garden at Lennox Gardens is anything to go by."

The inauguration of the garden brings another Chinese element to the largest country in the Southern Hemisphere, which is determined to build stronger ties with Beijing. The Chinese community is growing, and efforts are being made to attract more tourists.

The Chinese Garden of Friendship at Sydney's Darling Harbor, covering 10,000 square meters, has so far attracted 4 million tourists from both Australia and abroad. It was built as a symbol of the friendship between Sydney and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, to mark Australia's bicentennial in 1988.

wanghui@chinadaily.com.cn

The Canberra Beijing Garden is a gift from Beijing municipal government to its sister city Canberra to mark the Australian capital's 100th anniversary. Qian Jun / Xinhua

(China Daily 11/18/2014 page3)