China and Australia held talks on regional security and arms control here Thursday, when the two sides pledged to further bilateral ties.

The 16th round of the Sino-Australian consultations on regional security and arms control were co-chaired by China's Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei and Miles Kupa, deputy secretary of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In addition to discussing issues of the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region and multilateral arms control, they exchanged views on the two countries' relations, according to a press release of Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two sides share the view that the two countries have wide common interests, and the bilateral cooperation has broad prospects, said the press release.

China and Australia are ready to facilitate the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties, based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2009)