On the afternoon of October 24, 2003, President Hu Jintao, who was in Canberra for a state visit, held talks with Australian Prime Minister John Winston Howard at the parliament building. During the talks, the two leaders had an in-depth exchange of views and reached broad consensus on how to strengthen all-round cooperation, and on regional and international issues of common concern.

Noting that the all-round cooperation between the two countries has enjoyed constant development and achieved notable results, Hu said China highly appreciates the Australian government's efforts to forge a strong partnership with China. He said China's new leadership attaches great importance to Sino-Australian relations and hopes to treat and develop the relations from a strategic view, adding that China is willing to make joint efforts with Australia to further enrich bilateral relations and promote bilateral cooperation in all fields so as to benefit both peoples.

Hu raised a four-point proposal for the development of China-Australia relations. First, the two countries should enhance mutual trust and broaden common interest. Both sides should maintain momentum of high-level exchange of visits and give full play to the existing consultation and dialogue mechanism so as to cement the political foundation for bilateral ties. Second, new areas of economic cooperation should be explored and their respective advantages should be given full play. As important trading and investment partners, the two countries have conducted successful cooperation in science and technology, health, environmental protection and quarantine. Australia has advanced technology and management in many fields while China possesses a vast market and abundant labor. Their enhanced cooperation of mutual benefit will surely benefit each other's prosperity and development. China is willing to establish a long-term and stable partnership of cooperation with Australia on energy and resources. Third, the two countries should proceed from the general interests of bilateral relations, respect each other and seek common ground while reserving differences. Both countries should take interests and concerns of the other into consideration and properly handle the disagreements between them in order to ensure a smooth development of bilateral relations. Finally, efforts should be made to strengthen consultation and coordination on international issues. China is ready to exchange views with Australia in a timely manner on major regional and international issues, and coordinate their positions in such organizations as the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum with a view to maintaining world stability and development.

Howard noted the two countries have already established a cooperative relationship full of vitality on the basis of mutual respect. Reiterating that the Australian government will firmly pursue the one-China policy, Howard said he fully agrees to the proposals. He said that he believes new achievements will be made in politics, trade and economic relations, energy, education and tourism as all-round cooperation between the two countries moves forward by joint efforts.

After the meeting, the two leaders presided over the signing ceremony of 4 cooperation pacts including one called Sino-Australian trade and economic framework.

Hu and Howard also met with the press and answered questions. Hu stressed the importance of intensifying bilateral economic cooperation and trade in the development of bilateral relations and reiterated the Chinese government's principled position on the question of Taiwan.