Chinese President Calls for Closer Trade Ties With Australia
September 9, 1999 - 0:0
MELBOURNE, Australia Chinese President Jiang Zemin called Tuesday for closer trade ties with Australia to take advantage of the two countries' complementary economies. Speaking at the first official engagement of his four-day state visit, Jiang said he also wants Australia and China to cooperate more closely in international economic forums, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in New Zealand starting this weekend.
``China and Australia should increase consultation and cooperation in APEC and international financial institutions and make joint efforts for ... the reform of the international financial system,'' Jiang told the Australia-China Trade and Investment Summit. China's ``abundant human resources and ``vast market'' complement Australia's plentiful natural resources, Jiang said. While China can provide Australia with labor intensive products, China has strong demand for such Australian exports as iron ore, aluminum, grain and wool, Jiang said.
China is Australia's fifth largest trading partner. Last year, Australia racked up exports to China worth 3.8 billion Australian dollars ($2.4 billion), while its imports from China were worth 5.8 billion australian dollars ($3.7 billion). Jiang's first official function since arriving in the southern city of Melbourne on Monday night was accompanied by the noisy chants of about 150 demonstrators protesting China's annexation of Tibet. Shouting ``Jiang Zemin go home'' the protesters were kept out of the hotel where Jiang was speaking by about 40 police including several on horseback.
In bilateral talks, Australian officals were planning to urge China not to resort to force in its efforts to reunite Taiwan with mainland China. China has recently stepped up military pressure on Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. After leaving Australia on Saturday, Jiang will head to the APEC summit in New Zealand and a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton. (AP)
``China and Australia should increase consultation and cooperation in APEC and international financial institutions and make joint efforts for ... the reform of the international financial system,'' Jiang told the Australia-China Trade and Investment Summit. China's ``abundant human resources and ``vast market'' complement Australia's plentiful natural resources, Jiang said. While China can provide Australia with labor intensive products, China has strong demand for such Australian exports as iron ore, aluminum, grain and wool, Jiang said.
China is Australia's fifth largest trading partner. Last year, Australia racked up exports to China worth 3.8 billion Australian dollars ($2.4 billion), while its imports from China were worth 5.8 billion australian dollars ($3.7 billion). Jiang's first official function since arriving in the southern city of Melbourne on Monday night was accompanied by the noisy chants of about 150 demonstrators protesting China's annexation of Tibet. Shouting ``Jiang Zemin go home'' the protesters were kept out of the hotel where Jiang was speaking by about 40 police including several on horseback.
In bilateral talks, Australian officals were planning to urge China not to resort to force in its efforts to reunite Taiwan with mainland China. China has recently stepped up military pressure on Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. After leaving Australia on Saturday, Jiang will head to the APEC summit in New Zealand and a face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton. (AP)