Maintaining the healthy and stable China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conducive to promoting peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi told visiting Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Wednesday.

China and Australia should and can become mutually-needed partners of cooperation as they have neither historical grievances nor fundamental conflicts of interest, Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said in the sixth China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue held in Beijing.

Wong's visit echoes the 50th anniversary of the signing of the diplomatic communique between China and Australia, which is of symbolic significance, Wang noted. 

China appreciates that the new Australian government has repeatedly expressed willingness to improve and develop bilateral relations with China, Wang said, adding that the two sides should jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries to achieve this goal.

Both sides should take the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, to return to the original intention and promote bilateral relations for further improvement and move forward in a sustainable manner, he stressed. 

Wang said both sides should abide by the commitments made when establishing diplomatic relations, adhere to a correct mutual understanding and a mature way of getting along with each other, and maintain the stability of policies.

The Chinese foreign minister pointed out the importance of mutual respect. Both sides should respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, political systems and development models, refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs, and treat each other as equals with peaceful coexistence. 

Wang called on both sides to correctly view the differences between the two countries, recognize them, control them and transcend them. He said both sides should enhance understanding through contact and find mutually acceptable solutions through consultations.

Noting that China and Australia have highly complementary economies and broad prospects for cooperation in various fields, he said both sides should make consensus and cooperation the keynote of bilateral relations, expand common interests, promote their respective development and prosperity, and bring more lasting benefits to the peoples of both countries. 

Wong said that the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, set by Australia and China when establishing diplomatic ties have played an important role in promoting the development of bilateral relations. 

Australia and China have close economic and trade ties, vibrant people-to-people exchanges and long-standing friendship, and a stable and constructive Australia-China relationship is in the interests of both countries and the region, she said.

The new Australian government adheres to the one-China policy, properly manages rather than magnifies the differences between the two countries, and restores and develops communication and exchanges in various fields under the framework of the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, she added.

In a joint outcomes statement issued after the dialogue, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level engagement, commence or restart dialogue in areas including bilateral relations, trade and economic issues, and regional and international issues, and support people-to-people exchanges.