DEVELOPING TIES, ENHANCING MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL COOPERATION

Xi's visits to Australia and New Zealand, both important cooperative partners of China, will enhance mutual trust, and expand and deepen practical cooperation between China and the two countries.

Xi will be the first Chinese head of state to visit Australia in seven years. China and Australia boast extensive and significant common interests and huge potential for cooperation.

Currently, China is Australia's largest trade partner and export destination. The two sides have been pushing forward with a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to lift bilateral cooperation in such areas as economy, investment and agriculture to higher levels and promote China-Australia relations and the development of regional economic integration.

Xi will deliver a keynote speech and witness the signing of a series of agreements between the two sides during his stay in Australia.

Chinese Ambassador to Australia Ma Zhaoxu described the visit as of milestone significance, saying it will enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation and strengthen friendship between China and Australia, and lift their strategic partnership to a new level.

At the same time, relations between China and New Zealand are at its best in history.

New Zealand was the first Western country to sign and implement an FTA with China, and the 2008 deal brought bilateral political, economic and trade ties to a new height.

China has become New Zealand's largest trade partner, largest export market and largest source of overseas students.

It is the first state visit to New Zealand by a Chinese head of state in 11 years. Xi is expected to witness the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two sides during his tour to New Zealand.

Jason Young, with the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Center, said he hopes that the two countries can make their bilateral partnership a paradigm for peaceful co-existence and win-win cooperation between countries of different social systems, cultures and at various development stages.

COOPERATING WITH PACIFIC ISLAND STATES FOR COMMON DEVELOPMENT

Pacific islands are important members of the developing countries camp.

Proposed by China, the first China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum was held in Fiji in April 2006, with the aim of boosting trade and economic cooperation and common development.

From then to 2013, bilateral trade between China and the Pacific islands has scored an annual average growth rate of 27.2 percent, with total direct investment rising by an average of 63.9 percent per year.

The upcoming visit will be Xi's first to the Pacific islands, during which he will meet leaders from eight island states. Experts from these states said Xi's visit will set a milestone in the development of bilateral ties.

China has prioritized environment protection in its cooperation with these nations, helped them develop a range of hydroelectric, solar and other renewable energy projects, and offered them substantial aid in saving energy and protecting environment.

Such sincere assistance has benefited local people and enhanced sustainable growth of green economy in the region.

Observers say China, a major economic and development cooperation partner of the Pacific island countries, is playing a more and more important role in the South Pacific region, and has made significant contributions to enhancing these states' development.