China, Australia should support cooperation in energy, mining: Wen

PHNOM PENH -- China and Australia should accelerate bilateral free trade pact negotiations and support cooperation among their enterprises in energy and mining, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday.

Wen was speaking during a meeting with Australian counterpart Julia Gillard as part of a series of meetings of East Asian leaders here.

With deepening economic interdependence amid the global financial crisis, China and Australia should promote the diversification of economic and trade relations, Wen said.

The two countries should broaden cooperation in services, agriculture, animal husbandry, clean energy, energy efficiency, environmental protection and infrastructure construction, he said.

Since China and Australia established diplomatic ties 40 years ago, the two countries have enjoyed a comprehensive relationship and closer connections based on mutual interests, Wen said.

China is willing to enhance communication and cooperation with Australia, strengthen security and strategic mutual trust and promote the inclusive, sustainable and diversified development of the Asia Pacific region, he said.

Gillard said Australia and China have enjoyed a relationship of growing maturity and great achievements in cooperation in a variety of areas in the past 40 years.

Australia would maintain high-level exchanges with China, establish and improve dialogue mechanisms, expand cooperation and promote bilateral ties based on mutual respect and win-win outcomes, Gillard said.