China, Australia vow stable strategic ties
CHINA and Australia yesterday agreed to promote the stable development of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, with strengthening communication and increasing cooperation.
As China-Australia relations are back on the right track, there should be no hesitation, and no turning back, and bilateral ties should move forward, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said while holding the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.
That is in line with common interests of the two peoples and general expectations of regional countries.
The two countries should work together to establish a more stable, more fruitful strategic partnership, Wang said, pointing to the fact that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.
He noted that ups and downs of the past 10 years have not only shown lessons that need to be learned, but also accumulated experiences that need to be cherished.
It is imperative to insist on mutual respect, mutually beneficial and winwin cooperation, independence, and seek common ground while reserving differences in developing bilateral relations, according to the minister.
Wang said that China is willing to work further with Australia to prepare for high-level exchanges, fully restart and make good use of consultation and dialogue mechanisms in various fields, give full play to complementary advantages, consolidate cooperation in the areas of energy, mining, agricultural products, tap potentials of cooperation in new energy, digital economy, green development, climate change and other fields, and continue to make the cake of common interests bigger.
China hopes that Australia will take concrete measures in upholding the principles of market economy and fair competition rules, thus providing a fair, just, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Australia, he said.
Wang urged continued cooperation in education, culture, people-to-people exchanges, tourism, and regional and youth exchanges, in addition to efforts to facilitate personnel exchanges, consolidating the public support for China-Australia relations.
China is willing to enhance communications and mutual understanding with Australia in international and regional affairs and make more contributions to world peace and development, he said.
Wang also elaborated on China's position on the Taiwan question, and on issues related to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Xizang, and South China Sea.
Penny Wong said that Australia and China have close ties in history, trade and culture, and they are comprehensive strategic partners located in the same region, noting that differences should not define bilateral relations.
The minister said that Australia is pleased to see remarkable progress in bilateral relations in recent years, and is willing to strengthen dialogue and communication with China on the basis of mutual respect.
The two sides agreed to resume and establish dialogues in various fields, increase cooperation between the departments of foreign affairs, economy and trade, science and technology, education and law enforcement of the two countries, and consider launching dialogues on maritime affairs.
(Xinhua)