China's rise is not only good for herself, but for the world as well, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in Canberra on Tuesday.

 

Australia and China enjoy very close ties, while the relations between the two countries' defense forces are developing smoothly, Howard said when meeting Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.

 

Australia is longing for a further strengthened relationship with China, said the prime minister.

 

Xu, who started his eight-day visit to Australia on Sunday, said China attaches great importance to her relations with Australia from a strategic perspective.

 

He said the two countries' defense forces should deepen the cooperation between them and set up a model for other countries' military forces with different social and cultural backgrounds.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, Xu had separate meetings with Australian Defense Minister Bredan Nelson and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and briefed them on China's principled stance on the Taiwan issue.

 

Australian officials confirmed to Xu that their government will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, a Chinese delegation spokesman said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)