Australian state premier urges federal gov't to mend ties with China: media

SYDNEY - Premier of the Australian state of Western Australia (WA) Mark McGowan urged Australia's federal government to mend relations with China, local media reported on Friday.

McGowan made the remarks at a press conference on Thursday after China announced its decision to indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework of the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue beginning Thursday, said a report by online newspaper WAtoday.

McGowan said he wasn't familiar with the details of the decision by China but warned against using "hostile language" when dealing with China, according to the report.

"My position on relations with China is very clear; I think we need to rebuild the relationship and I think we should stop language about war, conflict, and hostilities," McGowan was cited by the report as saying.

"I don't think that sort of language is helpful to anyone and I expect the Australian public wouldn't want that sort of language either," he said.