Top legislator Wu Bangguo met with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Canberra Tuesday and the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Australia relations, bilateral trade and economic cooperation and other major issues of common interest.  

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, and Howard also discussed the Taiwan question.

The two leaders reached important consensus on the issues they discussed.

Bilateral relations have grown steadily since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries 33 years ago, Wu said, adding that recent years have witnessed frequent exchanges of visits at the top level and the strengthening of the political relationship between the two countries.

Exchanges and cooperation in trade and economy and other fields are in full swing and the two countries maintain consultation and coordination in regional and international affairs, Wu said.

He pointed out that Australia recognized China's full market economy status and the two sides decided to start negotiations on a free trade agreement during Howard's visit to Beijing last month. The first round of the talks was held on Monday.

China-Australia relations are in their best now, he said.

One of the main purposes of his visit to Australia was to push for the establishment of a long-term strategic partnership in the energy and mineral resources sectors, Wu said.

During his tour of Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales in the past few days, Wu said, he was impressed by the strong desire shown by the local governments, businesses and people from various circles to promote relations and cooperation with China.

China and Australia enjoy a strong economic complementarity and a huge potential for cooperation, and deepening the mutually beneficial cooperation in energy and mineral resources conforms to the common interests of both sides, he said.

China is ready, in the principle of mutual benefit for win-win results, to work together with Australia to conduct strategic cooperation in the energy and mineral resource sectors and set up a long-term and stable partnership in this regard, Wu said.

Howard said bilateral trade and economic cooperation, particularly in energy and mineral resources, is one of mutual benefit and that Australia is a reliable, stable and secure supplier. He expressed the hope that bilateral cooperation in energy and mineral resources would be further increased.

On the Taiwan question, Wu said that while there is an easing of the tensions across the Taiwan Straits, the roots of the tensions have not been eliminated. The secessionist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces have become the biggest obstacle to the development of cross-Straits relations and they constitute the realistic threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, he said.

"Striving for a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question on the basis of the one-China principle is our consistent stand," Wu said. "We will do our utmost with maximum sincerity to achieve a peaceful reunification, but we will never tolerate the secessionist activities of the 'Taiwan independence' forces."

Howard reaffirmed his government's adherence to its one-China policy. Wu expressed his appreciation for the Australian government's stand in this regard.

Wu is currently on an official goodwill visit to Australia, the second leg of his four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to New Zealand and Malaysia. He also visited Singapore.

(Xinhua News Agency May 25, 2005)