China is willing to join hands with Australia and promote the further growth of their bilateral ties, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday in a phone conversation with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd.

Wen noted that as important countries in Asia-Pacific region, China and Australia are close partners to each other. "The sound development of their bilateral relations is in the common interests of the two peoples and will contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and the world at large," he said.

He reiterated China's commitment to developing Sino-Australia relations from a strategic perspective and making continued joint efforts with Australia to boost bilateral ties.

Rudd said Australia and China enjoy a sound relationship and this relationship is of great importance to his country.

He expressed his country's hope to strengthen and broaden its cooperation with China. Rudd said he is quite optimistic about the future of the relations between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency December 6, 2007)