Chen Deming Meets with Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean
Post Date: 20 Nov 2009 Viewed: 614
Minister of Commerce Chen Deming met with Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean at the 21st APEC Ministerial Meeting in Singapore on November 12. The two sides frankly exchanged of views on issues of common interest, China-Australia free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations and Doha Round Negotiations.
Chen Deming said that with the efforts of the negotiating teams of both sides, China-Australia FTA negotiations have gained some achievements. And recently, the successful meeting between the leaders of China and Australia has injected new impetus for the negotiation. China attaches great importance to China-Australia FTA negotiations, and hopes the Australia side show flexibility in the negotiation, and takes China's concerns into serious consideration, so as to jointly promote the progress of the negotiation. Crean said that the negotiation has achieved positive results presently, and hope that both sides seize the opportunity, and hold the next round of negotiation as soon as possible; The Australia side will make efforts to resolve China's concerns, and strive for an early agreement.
Regarding to Doha Round Negotiations, Chen Deming stressed that the two sides shall, based on the three principles of "respect for the Mandate, lock results, and on the basis of the December 2008 Chairperson's texts for agricultural and non-agriculture negotiations", positively promote the negotiations in a practical manner. China is willing to work with other parties to stick to the multilateral negotiation as the main channel, and promote the Doha Round Negotiations to achieve a comprehensive and balanced result by the end of 2010. Crean said that China plays an important role in Doha Round Negotiations, and hope China continues to play an active role. Australia is willing to work together with China to end the negotiations in an early date.
On the same day,Chen Deming also met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Hormats in Singapore, the two sides discussed such issues as Sino-US economic and trade relations and Sino-US cooperation in the area of development assistance.