China and Australia have reached agreement to forge an all-round cooperative ties featuring mutual benefits and win-win outcome.

Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Australian Prime Minister John Howard made the consensus public after their official talks amidst Wen's visit to Australia in Canberra Monday.

Wen described the China-Australia ties as "in the best ever period in history." "China highly commended that Australia viewed China as a cooperation partner and not a threat instead," Wen said.

Both located in Asia-Pacific region, he said, China and Australia have no fundamental conflict while sharing extensive common interests in many fields.

The enhancement of the bilateral ties reflects the political will of the two governments and also the aspiration of the two peoples, he said, adding that it serves the fundamental interests of two sides and is conducive to peace and prosperity in the region, he said.

He also appreciated Australia's adherence to one-China policy and opposition against "Taiwan independence".

Howard said Australia would prioritize its relations with China in Australian external relations. Australia appreciated the active role played by China in global and regional affairs.

Australia endeavored to forge closer and more fruitful partnership with China and will continue to adhere to one-China policy, he said.

The two countries have agreed to set up a regular high-level meeting and visit exchanging mechanism for timely exchange of opinions on major issues in bilateral ties.

The two countries also agreed to speed up negotiations on the free trade zone and make clear a timetable for the negotiations. " The two sides will endeavor to make substantial progress in the FTA talks within one or two years for signing an agreement which is mutually beneficial and conducive to both," according to a Chinese diplomatic source close to the talks.

For the bilateral cooperation in energy and mineral resources, the two agreed to form a long-term, stable and healthy supply- demand relations and a fair and rational pricing system. The cooperation could be extended from the commodity trading to the cooperation in upstream mining and the relevant technical know-how on new, renewable and clean energies.

One noteworthy issue is that the two sides agreed to undertake uranium mine development within the framework of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purpose. After the talks, Wen and Howard attended the signing ceremony, in which the two sides signed two agreements, one for the cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the other for the transfer of nuclear materials.

People-to-people contacts was also a frequently mentioned topic when the two heads of government held talks or met with press afterward.

The two have agreed to strengthen dialogue and consultation on major international issues for the peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two heads of government also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue, the cooperation within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Wen was on a four-nation tour, which will also take him to Fiji, New Zealand and Cambodia.

Source: Xinhua