Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao arrived in Perth Saturday, kicking off his official
visit to Australia.
Wen made the tour at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister
John Howard.
Australian Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources Ian
Macfarlane, as Howard's representative, and other Australian senior
officials greeted Wen at the airport.
In a written speech delivered at the airport, Wen said that
China and Australia, both located in the Asia-Pacific region, share
extensive common interests in many fields. "China-Australia
relations now enjoy good momentum of growth; our trade ties are
flourishing," he said, adding that the bilateral relations are
solidly grounded and face new development opportunities.
"Fostering the all-round growth of China-Australia relationship
serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and two
peoples and enhances stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific
region and the world at large," he said.
"I am visiting Australia to further the development of
China-Australia relations in all fields. I look forward to
exchanging views with Prime Minister John Howard and other
Australian leaders on China-Australia relations and international
and regional issues of mutual interest," he said.
"I also look forward to entering into extensive contact with the
Australian people to enhance understanding and friendship and
promote the growth of China-Australia relationship of all-round
cooperation," he said.
Australia is the first-leg of Wen's four-nation tour, which will
also take him to Fiji, New Zealand and Cambodia. He is also
scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of the first China-Pacific
Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum and
deliver a keynote speech.
China-Australia ties, in particular the bilateral trade, have
seen rapid development. China is now Australia's second largest
goods trading partner and its second largest overseas market.
Energy and mineral products account for about 60 percent of
Australia's exports to China, which has become Australian's largest
buyer of iron ore and nickel.
Dual-track trade between the two countries hit US$27.3 billion
in 2005.
(Xinhua News Agency April 2, 2006)
