Top Chinese national advisor Jia Qinglin met with David Hawker, speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, in Beijing Wednesday, saying China will further parliamentary exchange and cooperation with Australia.  

"The Sino-Australian economic and trade links developed quickly and our friendly cooperation in all fields expanded since President Hu Jintao's visit to Australia in 2003," said Jia, who is chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body.

"Our cooperation in energy and natural resource sectors witnessed new progress and has become an important part of the economic ties. The building of a China-Australia free trade area will also facilitate bilateral economic and trade cooperation," Jia noted.

Jia appreciated Australia government's adherence to the one-China policy, saying that the CPPCC will further exchange with the Australian parliament to contribute to the development of Sino-Australian ties.

Jia said he hoped the Australia parliament and its members would understand and support China's efforts to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and achieve the peaceful reunification of the country.

Hawker hailed Australia-China ties, saying the two countries kept frequent high-level visits and close economic and trade ties.

He reiterated Australia's support for the one-China policy.

China and Australia are striving to forge a free trade agreement and Australian Prime Minister John Winston Howard is expected to talk the issue with Premier Wen Jiabao in his working visit to China from April 18 to 19.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2005)