Home / International / International -- State Exchanges Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
China-Australia FTA Negotiations Making 'Steady Progress'
Adjust font size:

Visiting Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Thursday that the China-Australia Free Trade Area (FTA) negotiations are making steady progress.

 

"The negotiations are progressing well and we hope that they will move ahead significantly during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Australia in September this year," Downer told a briefing at the end of his four-day trip to China.

 

Australia was one of the first Western countries to initiate FTA negotiations with China. The FTA negotiations, which began in 2005, have now entered a substantive phrase.

 

The 8th round of talks concluded in Beijing last week with the sides reaching consensus on some sections of the FTA agreement.

 

"I think a successful negotiation will not only boost trade between China and Australia, which is already enormous, but also stimulate investment by each country," Downer said.

 

China-Australia trade volume has increased sharply from less than US$100 million in 1972 when the two countries forged diplomatic ties to 5 billion Australian dollars in 2006.

 

Downer said that China-Australia ties were "at their best since 1972."

 

He said the two countries had pledged to boost cooperation on environmental protection, climate change and clean energy.

 

Downer's official visit to China from April 2 to 5 was made at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2007)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read

Related Stories
Sino-Australian FTA Talks to Enter 'Substantive' Stage
LNG Project Reflects Closer China-Australia Ties
Sino-Australia Free Trade Talks Focus on Market Access
China, Australia to Hold Free Trade Negotiations in Beijing
2nd Round FTA Talks with Australia End
> Korean Nuclear Talks
> Middle East Peace Process
> Iran Nuclear Issue
> Reconstruction of Iraq
> 6th SCO Summit Meeting
Links
- China Development Gateway
- Foreign Ministry
- Network of East Asian Think-Tanks
- China-EU Association
- China-Africa Business Council
- China Foreign Affairs University
- University of International Relations
- Institute of World Economics & Politics
- Institute of Russian, East European & Central Asian Studies
- Institute of West Asian & African Studies
- Institute of Latin American Studies
- Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies
- Institute of Japanese Studies
SiteMap | About Us | RSS | Newsletter | Feedback
SEARCH THIS SITE
Copyright © China.org.cn. All Rights Reserved     E-mail: webmaster@china.org.cn Tel: 86-10-88828000 京ICP证 040089号