China, Australia seek to make bigger 'cake' of shared interest

Chinese PresidentXi Jinping(R) meets with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Beijing, capital of China, April 15, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Friday with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, vowing to make a larger cake of common interests to benefit the people of the two countries.

Turnbull, accompanied by a large business delegation, is paying his first official visit to China since taking office in September 2015.

The China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership is full of vitality, which serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people and is also beneficial to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, said Xi.

The two sides should keep the relations on the right track, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, so as to ensure the continuous, sound and stable development of China-Australia ties, he said.

The president called for alignment of China's Belt and Road initiative with Australia's northern development plan, as well as the synergy between China's national strategy of innovation-driven development and Australia's national innovation and science agenda.

He also suggested the two sides do a good job in implementing the China-Australia free trade agreement, explore more cooperative projects, and advance exchanges and cooperation in the areas of judiciary, law enforcement and defense.

China-Australia friendship lies in the two peoples, said Xi, calling on the two sides to take more measures to facilitate visa application process and promote cooperation in tourism, education and local affairs.

China values Australia's role in international and regional affairs, and is willing to enhance cooperation with Australia within the framework of G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Forum (APEC), the East Asia Summit, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), so as to jointly make contributions for infrastructure connectivity in the region, said Xi.

For his part, Turnbull said President Xi's historic visit to Australia in 2014 greatly boosted the development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Voicing Australia's confidence in China's economy and its impact on the world, Turnbull said his country hopes to forge a closer relationship with China, synergize development strategies of both countries and deepen cooperation in trade and innovation.