China's development is 'great opportunity for Australia'

China's development is a great opportunity for Australia and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said during a daily press briefing on Wednesday.

When asked to comment on Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's newly released national security strategy, spokesman Hong Lei emphasized that China unswervingly adheres to the path of peaceful development.

Hong said China noticed that the strategy comments positively on China's role in regional affairs and the multilateral arena.

It also expresses Australia's desire to strengthen strategic dialogue and all-around cooperation with China, as well as its support for China's participation in regional affairs, he said.

China hopes the strategy will help Australia properly handle the current international and regional situations, commit itself to the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and promote China-Australia relations.