China and Australia have agreed to build a relationship of
all-round cooperation for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes in
the 21st century, Premier Wen Jiabao said in Canberra Monday.
"This means that China and Australia should have consultation
and dialogue on political, economic and cultural issues, as well as
other major international issues," Premier Wen said at a joint
press conference with Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
Wen, who held talks with Howard prior to the press conference,
described the common understanding reached between them after an
in-depth exchange of views in the talks as "very important."
Speaking of the specific countenance of this relationship, Wen
said there are four major aspects.
First, China and Australia should enhance the mutual visits and
discussions between the leaders of the two governments, according
to the Chinese leader.
Second, China and Australia should work together to enhance
economic cooperation on all fields. At present, what is more
important for the two countries is to expedite the negotiation
process for the establishment of a free trade area between the two
sides.
Third, Wen said, China and Australia shall work together to
enhance their cooperation in science, technology, culture, sports,
tourism and other fields.
Fourth, China and Australia should work together to enhance
their consultation and coordination on major issues on the
bilateral level.
Wen stressed that China's foreign policy is open. "China does
not draw a line on the basis of ideology and China does not enter
into alliance with any other country or any other group of
countries," he said.
China is ready and willing to live in peace with all other
nations on this planet, Wen added.
Prime Minister Howard said his talks with Wen covered the whole
gamut of the economic and political relationship between Australia
and China.
"Of all of the relationships that Australia has, major
relationships Australia has with other countries, none has been
more completely transformed than the relationship with China over
the last ten years," he said, describing the transformation of the
relationship with China as "remarkable."
Wen said that bilateral cooperation between China and Australia
on nuclear energy is solely for peaceful purposes with safeguards
provided by related agreement signed by the two sides.
"China and Australia are conducting nuclear cooperation and this
is solely for the peaceful purposes," Wen said.
As a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and
a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he said, China
will surely observe the provisions and regulations laid out by the
IAEA and in the NPT.
"China is a responsible country in the international community,"
the premier said.
He said while China and Australia signed an agreement on nuclear
cooperation earlier Monday, they also put in place a mechanism for
safeguards.
"We believe that this safeguards mechanism will ensure that the
nuclear cooperation will not be used for non-peaceful purposes,"
Wen said.
Howard, for his part, also expressed satisfaction that the
safeguards that are there will be enforced.
He said it's on that basis that Australia and China have entered
agreements on cooperation in nuclear energy.
Responding to a question about China-Australia cooperation on
mineral resources, Wen said the two sides must proceed with their
cooperation in this field on the basis of mutual respect, mutual
benefit and equality.
"The mineral trade constitutes an important part of economic and
trade relations between China and Australia," he said, noting that
bilateral trade in mineral resources should be conducted and
approached from a long-term perspective.
Wen is here on an official visit to Australia at the invitation
of Prime Minister Howard. prior to the press conference, the two
leaders held talks and witnessed the inking of a series of
inter-governmental agreements and documents, including the
agreement for bilateral cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear
energy.
(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2006)
