Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday expressed hope that the State of New South Wales of Australia will play a more active role in China-Australia ties.

During a stop-over in the capital of the State of New South Wales before winding up his visit to Australia, Premier Wen met with Morris Iemma, premier of the Australian state.

Wen said that bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, high and new technology and life sciences, culture and education should be deepened.

Wen also called for more exchanges between sister cities or sister provinces and states of the two countries, including more exchanges of personnel, and closer cooperation between Beijing and Sydney in hosting the 2008 Olympic Games.

Iemma said the State of New South Wales attaches great importance to developing partnership with China whose economic development offers enormous opportunities to the biggest state of Australia.

The state is willing to broaden exchanges and cooperation with China, said Iemma.

Sydney is the last leg of Premier Wen's four-day official visit to Australia. During the past few days, the Chinese leader visited Perth and Canberra and had extensive contacts with Australians from all circles.

Source: Xinhua