Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Thursday that
China's rapid development is good news to Australian and other
parts of the world.
He told visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan that Australia
attaches great importance to her ties with China.
He expressed the hope that the two countries will strengthen
their cooperation in the areas of energy and sustainable
development through the Asia-Pacific partnership on clean
development and climate, which was established a year ago and
involves both countries plus four other key economies in the
region, and a bilateral working team on clean coal.
The prime minister also said his country sticks to the one-China
policy and will not support any talks or deeds of "de jure Taiwan
independence."
Zeng praised the development of the bilateral relations,
mentioning frequent exchanges at various levels, rapid increase of
investment and advanced cooperation in the energy sector.
He pointed out that the two countries are facing new
opportunities of development for this year, which marks the 35th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between
the two countries.
China is willing to promote, together with the Australian side,
the on-going negotiations of Sino-Australian Free Trade Agreement
and cooperation in the South Pacific region, he said.
He singled out the energy sector, the utilization of clean coal
technology and effective response to climate changes as the areas
for further bilateral cooperation.
The Chinese vice-premier also expressed his appreciation over
the Australian government's stance of one-China policy and
opposition to "Taiwan independence."
Zeng also met with Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile,
Foreign Minister Alexander Dower and Opposition leader Kevin Rudd
on Thursday.
Zeng's nine-day visit to Australia started in Perth, Western
Australia, last Monday. He held talks with local leaders on trade
and investment opportunities between the mining industry of the
state and China. He is also to visit Brisbane, the capital of
Queensland.
Australia is the first leg of Zeng's four-nation trip to South
Pacific, which will also take him to New Zealand, Vanuatu and Papua
New Guinea.
(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2007)
