President talks up trip down under ( 2003-10-23 10:13) (China Daily)
President Hu Jintao's visit is a great honour for Australia and is of
profound historic significance, the country's Governor-General Michael Jeffrey
said yesterday. Hu arrived in Sydney yesterday for a three-day visit for the
first time as president.
Jeffrey said he was glad to see that bilateral co-operation in various fields
has progressed vigorously.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) stands with
Australian Governor General Michael Jeffreys as they listen to the
Australian national anthem being played upon his arrival at Sydney Airport
October 22, 2003 at the start of his three-day visit to Australia.
[Reuters]
Hu said he valued the economic and trade ties between the two nations.
And he said China and Australia should discuss ways of expanding those links
using "strategic co-operation" in the field of energy as a starting point.
China awarded the North West Shelf Venture exclusive rights to supply
liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China in a deal worth up to US$25 billion last
year.
The LNG purchase, arguably Australia's biggest trade news story of the last
decade, has reinvigorated bilateral trade relations.
On the trade front, China is now Australia's third largest partner and
Australia ranks ninth on China's list.
Two-way trade grew by a fifth annually over the past five years and annual
trade was in excess of US$10 billion in the past three years.
Hu's visit is likely to include a comprehensive bilateral framework agreement
on trade and investment.
During yesterday's meeting with Jeffrey, the Chinese president said he looked
forward to an "in depth" exchange of views with Australian friends from all
walks of life on ways to further promote China-Australian relations.
