President Hu Jintao
met the Australian Governor-General Michael Jeffery in Beijing on
Monday and pledged that China would work with Australia to further
enhance bilateral ties and cooperation in all fields.
Jeffery congratulated China on the Shenzhou
VI mission and the completion of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, and
said Australia values relations with China and would like to
further increase bilateral cooperation on economy and trade, energy
resources and education.
Hu spoke highly of present relations, saying he and
Jeffery had reached common ground on developing relations and that
political trust and economic cooperation have been promoted.
Hu said bilateral trade volume exceeded US$20
billion last year, free trade agreement negotiations were launched,
and cooperation on energy resources, public health, and tourism had
been fruitful.
He also expressed his appreciation to Australia for
its adherence to a “one-China” policy and its opposition to "Taiwan
independence."
Jeffery said the Australian government hoped free
trade agreement negotiations would continue to make progress. He
also promised Australia would offer natural gas to China according
to the agreement.
Prior to the meeting, Hu held a ceremony to welcome
Jeffery, who arrived in the Chinese capital on Saturday as part of
his ten-day state visit.
During his stay in Beijing, he is also expected to
meet Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress Wu
Bangguo and Premier Wen
Jiabao.
(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2005)