Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan held talks with his Australian counterpart Mark Vaile, also leader of the Australian National Party, in Beijing Tuesday.

 

Zeng said Vaile's visit will promote understanding and friendship between the two parties and the two countries.

 

In recent years, China and Australia have carried out frequent high-level exchanges, cooperating in economic, technological, educational, tourism and cultural sectors, and coordinating and consulting on major international and regional issues.

 

Zeng said developing friendly cooperation between China and Australia, two major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, is in the interests of both peoples.

 

Next year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Australia.

 

Zeng said China is willing to expand bilateral cooperation with Australia and to promote the all-round China-Australia relationship.

 

Vaile said the Australian side is also willing to make efforts to push forward bilateral relations.

 

Vaile visited China as a guest of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2006)