China-Au.jpg (Photo : www.xinhuanet.com)
Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Queensland Premier Campbell Newman during his Nov. 16 Brisbane visit to ask him and his state to take on a bigger role in the promotion of China-Australia relations, according to Xinhua.
Queensland is Australia's second largest state in terms of area and the third biggest in terms of population. It also has Australia's third largest economy.
Xi suggested that Queensland, given its relative advantage in the nation's economy, scientific research and culture, can and should be a major participant in the forging of lasting China-Australia cooperation.
Xi noted that China has recently already become Queensland's largest trading partner, source of imports and destination of exports.
He added tat there is also much great potential that is still waiting to be tapped by their respective markets. In fact, China currently encourages more Chinese enterprises to take part in Queensland's mining, agriculture, animal husbandry and infrastructure construction, the Chinese president told Campbell.
Xi asked the Queensland Premier to give full play to the sister cities/sister states (provinces) mechanism of their respective local government units in order to maximize not only trading activities and business relations, but also to boost exchanges and cooperation in other fields like culture, education, science and technology.
Newman, for his part, told Xi that Queensland remains fully committed to the continued expansion of business and other forms of exchanges with China and to the development of a long and lasting cooperative relationship with the Chinese people.
He also assured the Chinese President that Queensland welcomes Chinese investment and more Chinese citizens to study in and to travel and tour the state.
In a separate venue on the same day, Xi's wife Peng Liyuan and Newman's wife Lisa, during their visit at the Queensland Museum, jointly voiced hope that there will be more people-to-people exchanges and stronger friendship between their respective peoples in the coming days.
