Australian PM's visit to china

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is welcome to visit China as early as possible, said Qin.

"We welcome him to visit China at an early and convenient time for both, and believe his visit would help push forward China-Australia relations," he said.

Qin said that the schedule of Rudd's visit was under discussion.

He said Sino-Australian relations had developed rapidly with the establishment of the strategic and cooperative relations.

He added China welcomes Rudd's willingness to strengthen cooperation with the country after he became Prime Minister.

"China is also ready to work with Australia to enhance mutual trust, exchanges and cooperation to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," Qin said.

Dumpling incident

China hopes to work with Japan to properly resolve a recent dumpling poisoning incident, said Qin.

He said that the incident was an individual deliberate case and the investigation was ongoing.

China had responded quickly and taken a responsible attitude and hoped to work with Japan to find out what happened, he said.

Qin also said that officials and the media in both countries should stay calm and take a reasonable, objective attitude so that they could reach a just conclusion.

In January, Japanese media reported that some people fell ill after consuming frozen meat dumplings produced by Tianyang Food Plant, based in north China's Hebei Province.

After thorough investigation, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said last week that the dumpling poisoning incident was an individual deliberate case, not a case of food safety resulting from pesticide residue.