'I Am Looking Forward Very Much to My Visit to China': Australian PM

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 16, 2002

'I Am Looking Forward Very Much to My Visit to China': Australian PM

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

"I am looking forward very much to my visit to China next week. It would be my third visit to China since I became prime minister," Australian Prime Minister John Howard stressed to Xinhua Thursday in Canberra.

To highlight his outstanding position in relationship with China, Howard said that there was no any other Australian prime minister who visited China on three occasions during his prime ministership in his country's history.

"The visit will importantly honor the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Australia and China thirty years ago, " he said.

"It is a further mark not only of the importance that Australia places on its relationship with China, but also of China's own important influence, not only on the region but also on the world generally," he said.

Howard stressed the close economic relations between the two countries pointing out "China is Australia's fastest growing export market and the third largest trading partner."

"Trade between the two countries has doubled since I first visited China as prime minister in 1997," he stressed.

On his forthcoming visit, he said "it is an opportunity for me to renew my associations and cooperation with the Chinese leadership."

"I know President Jiang Zemin and Prime Minister Zhu Rongji well, both have visited Australia," he said, adding that "it would be a very good opportunity to talk about all aspects of our relationship and different aspects of the regional and world affairs."

"Its a visit against the background of whole bilateral relationship but the natural gas is a major part of it," he said about gas trade between the two countries.

He emphasized that it would be another milestone on the way of, and an important next step to strengthen the relationship. "It will inaugurate a very strong new element of the bilateral economic relationship if Australian biding be successful," he said.

Howard said the Australian bid was the best and claimed that price is not the only thing should be considered but "the long- term security of supply which the Australian group can offer was very important.

Asked about his newly announced "Asia first but not Asia only" policy, he admitted Australian foreign policy has evolved in the past five years but denied there would be any major shift.

"The Asian region is the most important region of engagement for us but not the only region. We have actually significant links with other countries outside the Asian region," he said, adding " but the first area of our operations is the Asia-Pacific region".

Questions?Comments? Click here

Australian PM in Interview with PD Editor-in-Chief (Detailed)

Chinese President Meets Australian PM

China to Launch First Space Solar Telescope in 2005 ( 20 Messages)

Desertification Threat Advancing on Beijing ( 15 Messages)

China Is Among Countries with Wide Income Gap ( 60 Messages)

FM Spokesman on Anti-China Items In U.S. Defense Bill ( 75 Messages)

Spirit of May 4 Movement Still Inspires Chinese Youth ( 75 Messages)

China Launches Two Satellites ( 10 Messages)

Harvard Project in China Violates Farmers' Rights ( 28 Messages)

FM Spokesman on Consulate Intrusion Accident ( 34 Messages)

EP Always Picks on China with Cynical Remarks ( 20 Messages)