Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue

  • Media release
08 September 2014

The second Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue in Sydney on 7 September demonstrated the strength and the growing maturity of our bilateral relationship.

I discussed with Foreign Minister Wang Yi the full breadth of bilateral, regional and global issues, including the current situation in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine. We explored ways to increase our cooperation in regional and multilateral forums where we have shared interests and approaches.

Australia and China are key players in the region and are committed to a constructive and collaborative partnership based on shared interests and equality.

The economic relationship is of growing importance and I reaffirmed with Foreign Minister Wang Australia's commitment to conclude a Free Trade Agreement by the end of this year.

Australia looks forward to receiving Chinese President Xi Jinping in November for the G20 Summit in Brisbane and for a broader bilateral program.

His visit will be an important occasion to further deepen and broaden our ties and to cement cooperation across a range of areas.

The visit will complement the very successful visit by Prime Minister Abbott to China in April this year.

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