Australia ready to work with China to seek common interests as far as possible: Australian PM

Differences and disagreements should not define Australia-China relations, and both countries should seek common interests as far as possible, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Wednesday.

Albanese made the statement while meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Canberra. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, is currently on a tour from March 17 to 21 for an official visit to New Zealand and Australia.

The Australian side is pleased to see that in the past two years, Australia-China relations have returned to the right direction, and Australia is willing to keep close high-level exchanges with China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, Albanese said.

Albanese stressed that Australia always has and will adhere to the one-China policy.

Noting that the obstacles encountered in China-Australia relations have been overcome one by one and that outstanding cases are being properly resolved, Wang said China-Australia relations have realized a second important transformation after the current Australian Labor government came to power.

China is willing to work with Australia to promote high-level exchanges, resume the dialogue mechanism between the two countries and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, Wang said.

Calling for efforts to manage and transcend differences in a spirit of mutual respect, Wang said the two countries should jointly promote building a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.

During a meeting with members of the Australia-China Parliamentary Group on Wednesday, Wang said China's development is an opportunity for Australia, not a threat.

The journey since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries shows that China and Australia are partners, not rivals, he said.

Wang also met with Peter Dutton, leader of the federal opposition, on Wednesday and said the development of China-Australia relations is the result of the joint efforts of all political parties in Australia.

China is willing to maintain communication and cooperation with friends from all walks of life in Australia, he said.

(With input from Xinhua)