Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi encouraged Australia to make policies independently on Thursday during a meeting with former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in Sydney.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to work with Australia to promote the building of a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Australia is a partner of China and bilateral ties are moving to the right track, the foreign minister said, adding that both sides should trust each other and pursue win-win cooperation.

Australia is an ally of the U.S., and more importantly, a sovereign state, Wang noted, urging the country to make policies in accordance with its own interests.

China is willing to share its development opportunities with other countries including Australia, he added.

Keating said China has a large economy with broad development space. 

China is not a threat to the world and its development is unstoppable, he added, before expressing confidence in the prospects for China-Australia ties.