Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Sydney Wednesday morning for
a three-day state visit to Australia to promote economic and trade
cooperation between
China and Australia.
In a written statement issued upon his arrival at the airport,
Hu said that China and Australia are both located in the
Asia-Pacific region and that exchanges and friendship between the
two peoples can trace back to ancient times.
"In recent years, bilateral relations have maintained a good
momentum of development with ever expanding cooperation in all
fields and increasingly frequent personnel exchanges," he said.
He said that a long-term and stable relationship of all-round
cooperation between China and Australia conforms to the common
aspirations and interests of the two peoples.
Hu said that his current visit is aimed to "enhance friendship,
expand common ground, deepen cooperation and facilitate common
prosperity."
"I look forward to an in-depth exchange of views with Australian
leaders on the ways to further promote China-Australian relations
of all-round cooperation and on regional and international issues
of common interest," Hu said.
The Chinese president said that he will also meeXint with
Australian friends from all walks of life to know more about the
achievements and success experiences of the country.
The Chinese president was met by Australian Governor-General
Michael Jeffery, Prime Minister John Winston Howard, Chinese
Ambassador Wu Tao and other officials.
Hu flew in from Bangkok, where he paid a state visit and
attended the informal Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum.
Hu will visit New Zealand to continue his Asia-Pacific tour
after his trip to Australia.
(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2003)
