Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met in Beijing Monday with an Australian delegation to China for the Second China-Australia Bilateral Meeting.

Tang said the relationship between China and Australia had developed steadily and the two countries had positive results from exchanges and cooperation in recent years.

China was willing to deepen the comprehensive cooperative relationship with Australia, said Tang.

Charles Goods, head of the delegation, said the Australian side intended to maintain dialogue, enhance economic cooperation and bilateral relations.

The Second China-Australia Bilateral Meeting, jointly held by the Institute of International Studies of China and the Global Foundation of Australia, will open Tuesday here to discuss the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries and international and regional situations. 
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2003)