对于中澳两国而言,有着“中国通”之称的陆克文当选为澳大利亚总理,其意义非同寻常。正如陆克文在接受中国中央电视台采访时所言,他希望能够将中澳两国的关系提升到一个全新的高度。虽然他非常谦逊地说,他的汉语比较差,越来越差;但是没有人能够否认,他是第一位能讲一口流利汉语的西方领导人,更是第一位能用汉语与中国领导人直接交谈的西方领导人。 For China and Australia, having Rudd as “China Connect” as Australian prime minister is of extraordinary significance. As Rudd said in an interview with China Central Television, he hopes to take the relationship between China and Australia to a whole new level. Although he spoke very humblely that his Chinese was poor and worse, no one could deny that he was the first Western leader to speak fluent Chinese and the first to be able to lead Chinese and Chinese Western leaders who talk directly.