Premier Li says China willing to enhance cooperation with Australia

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Monday that China is willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with Australia at regional and international levels, calling for opposing camp confrontation and "new Cold War."

Li made the remarks during the ninth China-Australia Annual Leaders' Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

China is ready to work with Australia to build a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, Li said. 

Since Albanese's visit to China last November, China and Australia have further restored and developed dialogue and cooperation in various fields, achieving a comprehensive turnaround in bilateral relations, the Chinese premier pointed out.

He said that China is willing to work with Australia to maintain and develop the current hard-won positive momentum of bilateral relations.

The essential characteristics of China-Australia relations are mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and the development of China and Australia is an opportunity rather than a challenge to each other, Li said.

For his part, Albanese said that Australia adheres to the one-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence."

Australia supports China's development and prosperity, highly appreciates China's significant contributions to global poverty reduction, and is willing to maintain dialogue and communication with China, Albanese added. 

He also said Australia hopes to deepen cooperation with China in economy and trade, energy, cultural exchange, environmental protection and climate change mitigation.

(With input from Xinhua)