(240517) -- BRISBANE, May 17, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Casey Davidson, president of the Queensland branch of the Australia-China Friendship Society, speaks at a seminar in Brisbane, capital of Australia's northeastern state of Queensland, May 16, 2024. A seminar commemorating the 60th anniversary of Australian sinologist Colin Mackerras' teaching in China was held Thursday in Brisbane, capital of Australia's northeastern state of Queensland. The seminar, also focused on China-Australia relations, was jointly hosted by the Chinese Consulate-General in Brisbane and the Queensland branch of the Australia China Friendship Society. Mackerras, an emeritus professor at Griffith University, went to China in 1964 and taught at the Beijing Foreign Languages Institute (now Beijing Foreign Studies University) until 1966. Over the past 60 years, he has been engaged in Sinology research, actively promoting exchanges and cooperation between universities and cultural institutions in Australia and China and making outstanding contributions to the study of China and the promotion of Chinese culture. In September 2014, Mackerras was awarded the Friendship Award by the Chinese government. (Xinhua/Liang Youchang)