In a meeting with Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said in Beijing Tuesday that a stable and continuously developing China is "an opportunity to countries around the world and by no means a threat." 

"Some people are interested in portraying China as a threat. I think that's because they fail to have an objective and correct understanding of the developing path that China has chosen and they even have bias against China," Tang said.

Tang said China will keep following its road of peaceful development.

"We are ready to expand dialogue with all the countries in the Asia-Pacific region on issues concerning regional peace and development to increase trust and promote cooperation," he said.

Tang said the Sino-Australia bilateral ties are "at an important stage for further development."

Tang said that a healthy, stable, mutual-beneficial and cooperative relationship between the two countries not only serves their fundamental interests, but also helps promote regional peace and prosperity.

Hill said Australia values its relations with China and that the Australian army hopes to deepen cooperation with China especially in anti-terrorism and regional security.

Hill is in China for an eight-day visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2005)