In accordance with the common consensus reached by the leaders of China and Australia, the two sides discussed how to plan and direct the next-step development of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries during Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Australia and issued China-Australia Joint Statement. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei explained the significance of the Joint Statement to the accompanying journalists on Oct. 31, 2009.

He Yafei said Vice Premier Li’s visit to Australia was very successful and fruitful. The most important outcome is that the two sides issued China-Australia Joint Statement. It is the first comprehensive guiding document covering wide-ranging areas including politics, economy, humanities and multilateral relations and issued by the two countries since China and Australia established the diplomatic relations in 1972. It is of important guiding significance for it identifies the basic principles guiding the next-step development of bilateral relationship.

First, the two sides highlight the common interests as the paramount goal in the Joint Statement. China and Australia are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The two countries respect each other in politics, enjoy complementary advantages in economy and learn from each other in culture. The two countries enjoy a wide range of common interests in many fields. With such common interests, the two countries need cooperation, which is also the only choice for the two sides. It is the first thing highlighted by the two sides in the Joint Statement, according to He Yafei.

Second, the two sides stated in the Joint Statement that the two countries should respect each other’s core interests and important concerns, which is the foundation and underlying principle for the healthy development of bilateral political relationship. In the Joint Statement, the Australian side reiterates the adherence to the one-China policy on issues that involve China’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and other core interests such as the Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang issues. The Australian side respects China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This outcome is very important. The two sides will deal with any differences according to this principle.

Third, the two sides put an emphasis on the economic complementarities of the two countries in the Joint Statement. The two economies are highly complementary. China ranks N0. 3 while Australia ranks No. 14 in the world in terms of economic output. The economic output of the two countries adds up to over 5 trillion US dollars. In the Joint Statement, the two sides are committed to pursuing an open trade and investment policy, that is, open market and investment to each other. The Australian side welcomes China’s investment in Australia. According to the latest statistics, in the past one year and a half since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd took office in 2007, China’s investment in Australia has totaled more than 40 billion Australian dollars (one Australian dollar is about 0.91 US dollars), four times of the total Chinese investment in Australia in the previous 10 years. Recently the Australian government approved three China’s investment projects in Australia. The largest project among them is the Yanzhou Coal Mining Company’s acquisition of Australia Felix involving an amount of up to 3.4 billion US dollars. The other two are China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group and Baosteel’s investment projects in Australia. The cooperation between China and Australia in these fields enjoys a promising future. He Yafei also mentioned the negotiations on China-Australia free trade area (FTA). The negotiations lasted four years and some progress has been achieved. The negotiations involve some sensitive and complex issues, therefore the process is not moving so fast. During Vice Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Australia, the leaders of the two countries issued the Joint Statement and expressed very clear attitude. The two sides should promote the negotiations and have such a determination to move the process forward. The two sides should push forward the FTA negotiations with a positive and pragmatic attitude and complete the negotiations as early as possible. In the speech given to the Australian business community, Vice Premier Li stated clearly that the determination of the Chinese government in this regard has not changed. “Therefore, I believe that the visit and the will expressed in the Joint Statement will move the FTA negotiations forward and I am confident that productive results will be achieved.”

Fourth, the two sides highlight coordination and cooperation between the two countries at the regional and international levels in the Joint Statement. China and Australia are the members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, ASEAN Regional Forum, East Asia Summit (EAS) and other regional cooperation mechanisms. The two countries have conducted good regional coordination and cooperation. China supports Australia to play an important and constructive role in this region. Now the two sides have expanded such cooperation to the international arena. China and Australia share many common views in the United Nations, the Group of 20, the Copenhagen’s global climate change negotiations and other important international mechanisms and enjoy close cooperation. This has enriched the strategic connotation of bilateral relations from another perspective.

Finally, the two sides agreed to strengthen cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchanges in the Joint Statement. The mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples is the social foundation for the sustainable development of bilateral relations. The two countries also maintain close exchanges in the field. For example, the exchanges of visitors between China and Australia last year reached over 1 million, including 600,000 Australian tourists visiting China and 400,000 Chinese tourists visiting Australia. There are 130,000 Chinese students in Australia, making China the largest source of overseas students in Australia. The exchanges in this area are still expanding. During Vice Premier Li’s visit, the leaders of the two countries and the two governments decided that the two countries would hold the cultural year alternately from the next year. The Australian Cultural Year will be held in China from 2010 to 2011 and the Chinese Cultural Year will be held in Australia from 2011 to 2012. The two countries will have more chances to develop cultural exchanges. The exchanges between local governments of the two countries are frequent. Another piece of good news is that Vice Premier Li announced that a pair of pandas would be sent to Australia before the end of the year. The Australian people are happy to welcome the pandas to Australia.

He Yafei said, in general, the Joint Statement released by China and Australia is a historic document and is of important historical significance. It is a significant document guiding the development of China-Australia relationship for quite a long period of time in the future. “We are confident in the future of China-Australia relationship. We believe that with the concerted efforts of the two sides, all commitments made by the two governments in the Joint Statement will be fulfilled.”