Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said Tuesday that
China-Australia relations have maintained a sound momentum of
development in recent years.
Political mutual trust has been enhanced and mutually beneficial
cooperation in trade and economy and other areas has been fruitful,
Hu said during a meeting with Australian Governor-General Michael
Jeffery.
This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of
diplomatic ties between the two countries.
"China-Australia relations have set a good example for countries
with different social systems to live together in amity and embark
on mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.
The cause of promoting bilateral ties enjoys a solid political
foundation, deep popular support and huge potentials, the president
said.
The frequent exchanges of highest-level visits have provided a
strong impetus for the development of Australia-China relations.
The two countries are enjoying rapidly growing bilateral trade,
ever closer energy cooperation and increased education cooperation,
Jeffery said.
Both countries advocate maintaining world peace and oppose war,
and have kept close communication and coordination in international
affairs, he said.
He also hoped the two sides would strengthen research and
cooperation in agriculture and clean energy.
Before his arrival in Canberra, Hu visited Perth, capital of
Western Australia.
During his stay in Australia's resource-rich state, the Chinese
president heard presentations by executives of renowned Australian
enterprises and research institutes, watched a three-dimensional
show of geological modeling on mining and exploration, and visited
two laboratories. All the institutions have long-term cooperation
with relevant Chinese agencies and enterprises.
At a facility of HIsmelt, a joint venture with investment from
Australia, the United States, Japan and China, Hu viewed smelting
operations.
In recent years, cooperation between the two countries has been
expanding steadily, particularly in mining, infrastructure, energy
and environmental protection.
China is now the second largest trading partner of Australia,
while Australia is China's ninth. In 2006, bilateral trade amounted
to US$32.9 billion, up 20 percent from the previous year.
In the first half of 2007, bilateral trade reached 19.5 billion
dollars, a 35 percent increase over the corresponding period of
2006.
After his state visit to Australia, Hu will attend the economic
leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
forum in Sydney on Sept. 8-9.
PetroChina inks LNG supply deal
?
China's top oil and gas producer has struck a deal with Europe's
largest oil company to buy liquefied natural gas (LNG) from
Australia, to meet the country's soaring demand for clean fuel.
Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the signing
ceremony.
PetroChina International Co Ltd, a branch of PetroChina, and
Shell Eastern LNG signed a long-term supply agreement for LNG from
the Gorgon project in Western Australia, Shell said on its website
yesterday.
Shell and PetroChina will draw up a detailed LNG sale and
purchase agreement by the end of next year, according to Shell's
statement.
"Details such as price of delivery are still to be agreed, but
the deal will certainly boost China's clean energy supply," said
Han Xiaoping, an independent analyst with energy portal
China5e.com.
Han said the deal could also give PetroChina scope to get
involved in upstream gas exploration and production on the Gorgon
project.
"PetroChina could use its established natural gas distribution
networks in China to great effect if it can get involved in
upstream production at Gorgon," said Han.
Shell's Beijing office was not available for comment
yesterday.
However, Jon Chadwick, executive vice-president of Shell Gas and
Power Asia, said the deal "sets a new benchmark for LNG supplies
into China and underlines Shell's commitment to Chinese LNG
customers and to the Gorgon project".
Shell will sell 1 million tons per annum of LNG to PetroChina
during the 20-year contract, Shell said.
The Shell-PetroChina agreement is conditional upon a final
investment decision from the Gorgon joint venture partners.
(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily September 5, 2007)
