1. On current China-Australia relations

China always approaches its relations with Australia from a long-term and strategic perspective. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 37 years ago, bilateral relations have maintained steady and fast growth. Exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of areas continue to deepen, bringing real benefits to our two countries and their peoples. China and Australia do not have historical disputes or fundamental conflicting interests. In stead, we share expanding common interests and a wide space for cooperation.

We are witnessing a sound momentum of all round growth in bilateral relations. Frequent exchanges of high level visits have laid a solid political foundation. A strong economic complementarity enables our business relations to grow dynamically with enormous potential. It is a highlight in bilateral relations. Cooperation in education, science and technology, tourism and culture continue to expand. China is Australia's largest source of international students and fastest growing source of foreign tourists. Fruitful people-to-people exchanges have enhanced our mutual understanding and friendship and reinforced the popular basis for bilateral relations. We have also maintained close consultation and coordination in international and regional organizations and on major global issues like financial crisis, climate change and regional cooperation. It demonstrates that this relationship is moving beyond the bilateral scope.

Both China and Australia are important countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. The bilateral relationship is at a new starting point. I am convinced that so long as we make joint efforts and continue to add new substances to our comprehensive cooperative relationship, we will certainly be able to reach a higher level.

2. On Vice Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to Australia

This is another important visit to Australia by Chinese senior leaders this year. Leaders of the two countries have maintained regular contacts through exchange of visits and letters and meetings in multilateral settings. Close contacts also take place at ministerial and other levels. As a result, political mutual trust has deepened. Recently President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao met with Prime Minister Rudd during international meetings. They exchanged views on bilateral relationship and charted course for its growth. A number of federal ministers and state leaders from Australia also made visits to China, and more of such visits will be made. These high level visits have been a strong boost for the steady and health growth of bilateral relations.

During his visit, Vice Premier Li will have meetings with leaders in Australia and have in-depth exchange of views with them on further developing China-Australia relations. He will also attend signing ceremonies of several bilateral agreements and meet with local governments, business community and personnel from other circles. I believe this visit will further strengthen our political mutual trust, facilitate friendly exchange and practical cooperation in all areas, enhance coordination on international and regional affairs and give new impetus to relations between our two countries.

3. On China-Australia economic cooperation

Economic cooperation between China and Australia has witnessed gratifying and fruitful progress in recent years. Annual growth from 2006 has been above 10 billion US dollar. Despite the financial crisis, two-way trade from January to August this year still increased by 23.7% to 51.18 billion AU dollar. And we keep making progress on mutual investments. I just attended the Hong Kong-Guangdong Business Conference in Sydney. It was a large meeting with more than a thousand people present. Companies from China and Australia signed 27 agreements of large cooperation projects, with a total value of 6.235 billion US dollars, in areas like information technology, infrastructure, agriculture, chemical industry, environment, logistics and service outsourcing. This demonstrates a strong desire from both sides to deepen economic collaboration and scale up mutual investments. It epitomizes the overall strong economic relations between our two countries, which are pragmatic and mutually beneficial.

My view on the financial crisis is that rather than affecting our economic cooperation, it has actually generated more business opportunities. The stimulus measures that both countries adopted have brought a great deal of opportunities to our companies. Several economic and technical cooperation projects were launched this year, covering energy and resources, infrastructure, finance, machinery and automobile technology. In addition, though our two countries are at different stages of development, we are both adjusting economic structure and shifting pattern of growth. As a result, low carbon economy, renewable and clean energy, clean coal and carbon capture and storage, smart buildings, new energy vehicles, and smart power grid have become new growth points in economic relations. At the same time, we can also explore cooperation in small- and medium-sized enterprises, employment, social security and poverty reduction, to spread the benefit of cooperation among the peoples. As long as the two sides remain alert to opportunities, there is much to achieve, even in times of crisis. The general direction of China's economic growth and strong complementarities between China and Australia have determined that their large economic relations will remain unchanged. A broad prospect lies ahead.

4. On future growth of China-Australia relations

Both China and Australia are major countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. Mutual respect, mutual trust and cooperation will bring real benefit to our two countries, and exert positive impact in a wider scope. History proves that the key to a steady and healthy growth of bilateral relations is to respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns. The world is undergoing profound and complex changes. China-Australia relations are facing great potential and rare opportunities for growth. China is ready to make joint efforts with Australia. If we seek common grounds while shelving difference, intensify dialogue, exchange and cooperation and give new substances to the comprehensive cooperative relationship between our two countries, we will definitely ensure its steady and healthy growth.