China, Australia look forward to future strengthening of ties

Twists and turns and difficulties over the past few years cannot define the nature of China-Australia relations, nor will it stop the advance of bilateral cooperation, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with the Australian delegation for the seventh Meeting of the China-Australia High-level Dialogue in Beijing, having resumed after a break of three years.

Wang said he expects both sides will make good use of the dialogue to enhance mutual understandings and improve bilateral relations.

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia. Standing at a new start, Wang said that it is necessary for both countries to learn from the setbacks that occurred over the past few years when dealing with each other.

He called for Beijing and Canberra to treat each other in an objective, calm and friendly way, and refrain from interfering in each others’ internal affairs.

The two economies are highly complementary, while the two peoples are friendly to each other, Wang said, adding that there are no historical disputes or major conflicts of interests between China and Australia.

The two countries should have a clear understanding that China and Australia are partners rather than rivals, and that the development of China is an opportunity, instead of a threat, to the Oceania nation.

Wang called on the two countries to exclude disruptions from a third party and push forward bilateral relations independently.

Noting that China and Australia are champions and promoters of the multilateral trading system, Wang said that China is ready to work with various parties, including Australia, to build an Asia-Pacific community and make globalization more inclusive, open and beneficial to all.

Craig Emerson, former Australian trade minister and head of the delegation, said that he is glad to see bilateral ties have grown mature after going through their ups and downs.

Australia always views China as an important cooperative partner and is willing to conduct constructive and candid dialogue with Beijing so as to strengthen mutual understands and manage differences, Emerson said.

He also called on the two countries to jointly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.