China is ready to make concerted efforts with Australia to promote relations between the two nations, said President Jiang Zemin when meeting visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard Thursday.

Jiang said the Chinese Government attached consistent importance to Sino-Australian ties.

After 30 years of development, relations boost a sound foundation, with frequent exchanges of high-level visits, increasing common interests and wide-ranging cooperation, the Chinese president said.

It had been proven that the establishment of long-standing and developing bilateral relations was in the interests of both peoples, Jiang said.

The two sides also discussed South Asia and Middle East issues and relations among major powers.

Jiang pointed out that peace and development were still leading the trends of the times, but warned world development was far from balanced.

Against such a backdrop, countries should enhance their understanding and cooperation, and gradually resolve disputes to realize peace and development, Jiang said.

He stressed that only by respecting the diversity and the interests of peoples of different countries and promoting the democratization of international relations could a just and reasonable international political and economic order be approached.

Howard recalled his meetings with Jiang on different occasions. He said they reached consensus on developing cooperative Sino-Australian relations in 1999 and ties have progressed rapidly since.

China has become Australia's third largest trade partner, Howard said, noting Australia was willing to make more efforts to expand friendly cooperation in the fields of trade and economics, education, science and technology, finance and tourism.

Jiang also briefed his guests on China's economic and social development, especially the country's strategy of developing its vast western region.

After the meeting, the Prime Minister and his entourage left for Australia.

(China Daily May 24, 2002)