Acting Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh said on Friday that the coastal state of Australia takes China as a great opportunity for its development and is eager to boost ties with the country.

Bligh made the remarks while meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan who started his nine-day visit to Australia in Perth, Western Australia, last Monday.

The State of Queensland and cities under its jurisdiction are willing to promote cooperation with China in mining industry, and to beef up cooperation and exchanges in fields like hi-tech industry as well as education and tourism, Bligh said.

Zeng said that the Chinese government has always attached importance to boosting friendly ties with Queensland and that the Aurukun bauxite exploitation program in the state is China's largest investment project in Australia.

China will keep its traditional trade such as agriculture and chemistry with Queensland and step up cooperation in energy industry, mining security and environmental protection, said the vice premier.

After the meeting, Zeng and Bligh took part in the signing ceremony of Aurukun bauxite exploitation between the Aluminum Corporation of China Limited and the state government of Queensland.

Australia is the first leg of Zeng's four-nation trip to South Pacific, which will also take him to New Zealand, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Source: Xinhua