On December 14, 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met with Australian Prime Minister John Howard in Kuala Lumpur.

Wen said that in recent years, bilateral relations have maintained sound development momentum and both sides have steadily scored new achievements in the exchanges and cooperation in the areas of politics, economy & trade, culture, education, tourism and science & technology, conducted effective cooperation in preparing the Beijing 2008 Olympics and maintained sound communication and cooperation in the United Nations (UN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and other important international and regional organizations, as well as major international and regional issues. The Chinese government regards and develops bilateral relations from a strategic perspective and deems Australia its important cooperative partner. China hopes to continue maintaining the momentum of high-level exchanges based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits, build up mutual political trust, expand exchanges and cooperation in various areas and try to push bilateral comprehensive cooperative relations to a new height.

Howard said that Australia attaches great importance to and has always committed to developing relations with China. Both sides are quite different in history, culture and philosophical thinking, but this doesn't influence them to reach consensus, since they share a lot of common interest and objectives. Bilateral relations have been developing smoothly and the cooperation in all areas remains effective. So long as both sides treat each other sincerely, their ties will become even closer.

Both sides exchanged views mainly on economic and trade cooperation. Wen indicated that both sides should deepen strategic cooperation in the area of energy and mineral resources, steadily advance the process of the negotiations on the free trade agreement and strongly strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchanges in sustainable development. Howard made positive response to Wen's suggestions. He said that bilateral energy and mineral resources cooperation conforms to the interest of the two countries and the governments of both sides have responsibilities to actively guide their businesses in conducting cooperation. Australia adopts a positive attitude towards advancing negotiations on the free trade zone and strengthening cooperation in environmental protection.

Both sides also exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.