Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his Australian counterpart
Stephen Smith started their first round of bilateral strategic
dialogue in Canberra on Tuesday and reached a broad consensus on
various issues.
The two ministers agreed that the establishment of such annual
strategic dialogue was in line with the needs of the progressive
development of the bilateral ties, was following the current trend
of peace, development and cooperation in the world, and marked the
new stage of bilateral ties.
During the dialogue, the two sides reached agreement on five
issues concerning the bilateral relations. The first was to
strengthen high level exchange and enhance mutual trust in
politics; second was to expand mutual interest and deepen bilateral
cooperation; the third was to expand peoples' contacts and increase
friendly exchange in cultural and educational sectors; the fourth
was to strengthen dialogue and communication, care about the
sensitive issues of both sides; and the fifth was to strengthen
regional cooperation to mutually promote regional peace and
stability.
The strategic dialogue system between China and Australia was
set up by the leaders of both countries in last September when
Chinese President Hu Jintao paid an official visit to Australia.
The dialogue provides a platform for both countries to strengthen
dialogue and communication over bilateral ties as well as important
regional and international issues.
(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2008)