Australian PM optimistic about reaching China, Australia FTA

Visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Wednesday in Shenzhen that he is optimistic about reaching a China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Howard said the establishment of a China-Australia free trade zone would be significant for both sides and he believed concrete progress would be made despite the existing differences and difficulties.

Howard attended a symposium on the China-Australia FTA in Shenzhen, in south China's Guangdong Province, on Wednesday afternoon.

Before that, he and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao opened the first ever Sino-Australian liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Shenzhen.

Howard said multilateral trade in the world is unsteady and the FTA is a safe way to consolidate and develop bilateral economic and trade relations.

This is of great significance to both Australia and China, he said, adding the two countries can further expand their cooperation, not only in energy, but also in finance, the service sector and education.

The establishment of a free trade zone will be an effective way to promote bilateral cooperation in these fields, he said.

Howard spoke highly of China's rapid economic development and said Australia has to establish very close ties of cooperation in economy and trade and politics.

Although Australia and China have different social systems, the two countries can strengthen their shared interests through cooperation, he said.

The negotiations on the FTA between China and Australia have undergone five rounds. The two sides still have differences in some fields, such as agriculture and the service trade.

A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said at the symposium that he hoped China-Australia FTA negotiations could properly settle China's concern on agriculture.

Zhang Dejiang, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Committee of Guangdong Province, said to set up the China-Australia FTA would be beneficial for both sides.

Zhang said as long as the two sides hold coordination equally and properly settle each other's concerns, the FTA negotiations can finally reach an agreement.

China and Australia have reached agreements on the principle and framework of the negotiation, he said.

"The two sides also exchanged views on sensitive issues, which has promoted mutual understanding," he added.

Zhang held that the two countries are strongly compatible in their industrial structure and there remains room for opening of both countries' markets.

Howard met with Zhang after attending the symposium. Zhang said the economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between Guangdong Province and Australia have been closer and closer in recent years.

Zhang expressed his hope to further cooperation with Australia in fields such as resources, energy, sci-technology and tourism.

Howard said he was deeply impressed by the rapid economic and social growth in Guangdong and Australia and Guangdong should work together on the LNG project.

He said he hoped the two sides could cooperate in broader fields, such as education and culture.

Source: Xinhua