Xi's Australia visit significant success: expert

CANBERRA - Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to Australia is a significant success, according to Hugh White, Australian strategist and professor at the Australian National University.

"I think it's a very important visit," White told Xinhua in a recent interview. "It's very striking how warmly the trade agreement was received by not just the Australian government but by Australian public."

"But I also think it's even more striking how warmly President Xi's remarks and observations about China's future role in Asia and Australia's future relations with China were received," he added.

In his speech to the Australian parliament, White said, President Xi "laid out an image of China's growing strength and reassured Australians that they will be secure and prosperous in Asia as China's power grows."

"It's obviously a very successful speech because the Australian parliament and more broadly the Australian public welcomed his remarks and very much accepted his assurance about China's intentions," White said.

There are three reasons why President Xi's speech and his visit were so warmly welcomed, said White.

First of all, President Xi's speech had a very warm and friendly tone and was delivered in a very engaging way. "I think he related very engagingly to his Australian hosts. That's a very successful piece of diplomacy," White said.

Secondly, the atmosphere was very strongly influenced by the Declaration of Intent of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which Australians received very positively.

"They are very optimistic of what the FTA will mean for Australia's economic opportunities in China," he said.

Thirdly, President Xi's personal style wins the hearts of the Australian people.

"His going to Tasmania, which is a beautiful place but small and out of the way, was a good way to demonstrate to Australians he is really serious about getting to know Australians. He wants to see every part of Australia. I think Australians took that as a compliment," White said.