China & Australia agree to further ties

[Lankan Ranger]

China & Australia agree to further ties

China and Australia on Wednesday agreed to strengthen their relations in a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Speaking highly of the "pragmatic, friendly and reciprocal" policies which Gillard has pursued toward China since she took office in September 2010, Hu said the two sides should make sure that bilateral relations continue on a sound and stable track.

"The two sides should respect each other, enhance political mutual trust and appropriately handle sensitive issues," Hu said.

Gillard said Australia abides by the one-China policy and views its relationship with China as one of its most important international relationships. She also said Australia attaches high importance to the further development of bilateral ties.

On the economic front, Hu said the two countries should fully display their complementary advantages and turn extraordinary potentials of cooperation into substantial benefits of cooperation.

Gillard echoed Hu in saying that the new agreements that the two countries signed during her visit would provide opportunities for the further development of bilateral ties.

Australia will join hands with China to grasp these opportunities and boost bilateral relations to new highs, she said.

During her first China visit, the prime minister witnessed the signing of five cooperative agreements between the two countries, which range from science and technology to tourism.

President Hu also called on the two countries to strengthen dialogue and cooperation within a multilateral framework.

The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination on regional and international issues concerning the G20 mechanism and global challenges, and make joint efforts for peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, Hu said.

Prior to the meeting, Gillard held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and attended the China-Australia Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum together with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang. She is scheduled to end her four-day official visit in China on Thursday.

China, Australia agree to further ties

 

[Gold1010]

Julia Gillard calls for closer defence ties with Beijing

Julia Gillard calls for closer defence ties with Beijing

 

[Hafizzz]

Australia to boost military ties with China
Australia to boost military ties with China - Yahoo! News

SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia will host more Chinese warships and increase live-firing and other defence exercises with the Asian powerhouse in a bid to boost ties, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Thursday.

Speaking to Australian media as she wrapped up a North Asia tour, including her first visit to Beijing as leader, Gillard said she discussed greater military cooperation during "friendly" talks with President Hu Jintao.

"(We) indicated a preparedness to keep discussing defence co-operation," she told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"We have indicated we are open to ships visiting Australian ports (and) there's some prospect that there will be some visiting before the end of the year.

"It's a few small steps on a journey to better understanding each other's military perspectives."

The United States and its allies have expressed concern over the motivation behind the Chinese military build-up and called for greater transparency.

Australia's 20-year defence plan, released in 2009, saw China on track to become Asia's dominant military power "by a considerable margin," but warned that the "pace, scope and structure" of its expansion could create tensions.

Beijing was troubled by the assessment, which was echoed in a foreign policy poll in Australia this week that found 44 percent of respondents believed China would become a military threat in the next two decades.

Of those, 87 percent said this would be because Australia would be drawn into any conflict with China as a US ally.

Gillard said increased military transparency was key to combating tensions by helping to "build understanding about people's military methods and military protocols".

Defence cooperation was already being boosted, she added, "taking the form of discussions between counterparts. It is also taking the form of some shared exercises, including live firing exercises."

"The best way of working through these issues is to, at a step at a time, engage in increased co-operation and links," said Gillard, in separate remarks to The Australian newspaper.

China is Australia's largest trading partner, buying mostly raw materials such as coal and iron ore crucial to the Asian giant's rapid industrialisation.

Weird. On one hand Australia hypes the China Threat and on the other hand she wants to boost ties with China.

 

[no_name]

Can't blame her, she walks a fine line between US and China.

 

[xdrive]

Weird. On one hand Australia hypes the China Threat and on the other hand she wants to boost ties with China.

The governemnt has never once "hyped" the thread of China.

Every single post you make, you include information that is just completely wrong.

 

[applesauce]

The governemnt has never once "hyped" the thread of China.

Every single post you make, you include information that is just completely wrong.

but government officials as well as the media certainly has cites the china threat