Xi, Rudd vow to boost cooperation

Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed bilateral relations with Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd by phone on Monday, vowing to boost cooperation between the two countries.

In the conversation, Xi said China and Australia, as two major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, can definitely push forward their bilateral relationship so long as they follow the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and sincerely take each other as strategic cooperative partners.

Xi said China and Australia, building on cooperation in energy and natural resources and agriculture, should enhance macroeconomic policy coordination, work for better investment environments for their enterprises and expand practical cooperation in infrastructure, energy saving and environmental protection and finance.

Xi urged efforts for the early conclusion of free trade talks between the two countries. He expressed the hope that the two sides would be flexible and creative in finding solutions to various problems, following the spirit of positive and practical attitudes, balance of interests and mutual benefit.

China will host the 2014 economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum while the Group of 20 summit will be held in Australia next year, Xi noted. The two sides should strengthen coordination and support each other to make multilateral cooperation a major booster for China-Australia Strategic Partnership, said Xi.

Rudd said Australia believes China's economy will keep its momentum of growth, which will benefit Australia, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. Australia is looking forward to closer ties with China.

Rudd noted that Australia attaches great importance to the free trade talks between the two countries and hopes for an early deal. Australia is willing to work with China within multilateral frameworks, he said.