Optimism about agreement being reached on a China-Australia Free
Trade Agreement (FTA) was expressed by visiting Australian Prime
Minister, John Howard at a symposium Wednesday.
Howard said the establishment of a China-Australia free trade
zone would be significant for both countries and he believed
positive progress would be made despite some existing
difficulties.
He attended a symposium on the China-Australia FTA in Shenzhen,
in south China's Guangdong Province, on Wednesday
afternoon.
Before that, he and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao opened the first ever
Sino-Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in
Shenzhen.
Howard said multilateral trade in the world was unsteady and the
FTA was a safe way to consolidate and develop bilateral economic
and trade relations.
This was of great significance to both Australia and China, he
said, adding the two countries could further expand their
cooperation, not only in energy, but also in finance, the service
sector and education.
The establishment of a free trade zone would be an effective way
to promote bilateral cooperation in these fields, he said.
Howard spoke highly of China's rapid economic development and
said Australia wished to establish close ties of cooperation in
economy, trade and politics.
Although the two countries had different social systems they
could strengthen their shared interests through cooperation, he
added.
Negotiations on the FTA between China and Australia have gone
through five rounds. The two countries still have differences in
some fields including agriculture and the service industries.
A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said at
the symposium he hoped China-Australia FTA negotiations would
settle China's concern over agriculture.
Zhang Dejiang, member of the Political Bureau
of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Committee of
Guangdong Province, said the FTA would be beneficial to both
countries. .
He said as long as the two sides coordinated their efforts and
properly settled each other's concerns the FTA negotiations could
finally be concluded.
China and Australia had reached agreement on the principles and
framework for the negotiations, Zhang explained. "The two sides
also exchanged views on sensitive issues which has promoted mutual
understanding," he added.
Zhang held that the two countries were strongly compatible in
their industrial structure and there remained room for the opening
up of both countries' markets.
Howard met with Zhang after attending the symposium. Zhang said
the economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong
Province and Australia had become closer and closer in recent
years.
Zhang expressed his hope to further cooperation with Australia
in fields such as resources, energy, science and technology and
tourism.
Howard said he was deeply impressed by the rapid economic and
social growth and Australia and Guangdong should work well together
on the LNG project. He said he hoped the there could be further
cooperation in areas such as education and culture.
(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2006)