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China's top legislator Li Peng expressed hope Tuesday that the relationship of all-round cooperation between China and Australia will grow further with efforts by both governmental and non-governmental organizations of the two countries.
Li, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, met with former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in Beidaihe, Hebei Province.
Thirty years ago, shortly after Whitlam became premier, China and Australia established diplomatic relations.
Li spoke highly of the decision and thanked Whitlam for his important contributions to bilateral ties over the past three decades.
Whitlam's decision showed his farsightedness as a statesman and would be remembered by the Chinese people forever, Li said.
Li briefed Whitlam on China's political and economic situation.
Whitlam recalled his friendship with China. After his first visit to China as leader of the Australian Labor Party in 1971 and his second China tour as prime minister in 1973, he visited China several times, he said.
He was making the current tour to see the changes that had taken place in China and to express his confidence once again in the growth of bilateral ties, Whitlam told Li.
Whitlam visited China this time as guest of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2002)
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