Vice-President Meets Australian Defense MinisterChinese Vice President Hu Jintao said Friday that China attaches importance to its friendly relations with Australia and is willing to further the exchange and cooperation with Australia.Hu, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark during a meeting with Australian Minister for Defense Peter Reith. Hu said Sino-Australian ties have maintained a good momentum of development in recent years thanks to the joint efforts on both sides. China and Australia are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific region and share interests and bear common responsibility in maintaining security and stability and in promoting economic prosperity in the region, Hu said. China is willing to strengthen exchange and cooperation between the two countries and their armed forces in various fields and at all levels, so as to ensure the long-term and healthy development of Sino-Australian friendly cooperation, he noted. Hu also briefed the minister on the Chinese government's principled position on the Taiwan issue and expressed his appreciation for the Australian government's adherence to the one- China policy. Reith said Australia attaches great importance to developing relations with China, adding that all of its political parties and various sectors of society also support developing ties with China. He noted that Australia supports China's accession into the World Trade Organization. The Australian government will stick to the one-China policy, Reith said, adding that he hopes the two countries will continue to develop exchange and cooperation on defense. |
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