On April 10, 2008, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd at the Great Hall of the People. Both sides reached broad consensus on deepening mutually beneficial cooperation in a comprehensive way in a candid, pragmatic atmosphere.

During the meeting, Wen said that China-Australia relations had developed rapidly in recent years, with frequent high-level exchanges and comprehensive dialogues at all levels. Tremendous achievements have been made in trade and economic cooperation, with China becoming the largest trade partner to Australia, said Wen. The two have also maintained sound cooperation regarding major international and regional affairs, he added. The growth of bilateral ties had greatly benefited both sides and promoted peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region. Wen said China attached importance to the development of China-Australia relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and was ready to take bilateral ties to a new level on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Rudd, for his part, said that Australia-China ties have made substantial development since the establishment of diplomatic ties. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation kept expanding with strong momentum on trade, energy, resources and investment. Australia understood and supported China's development, which was conducive to Australia and the world at large, he said. Expressing optimism about the future of relations between Australia and China, Rudd said from a strategic perspective he hoped that his country would be a long-standing partner in China's development.

Wen also elaborated on the Chinese government's principled position on the Taiwan question and introduced the facts about economic development, human rights promotion and cultural protection in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Rudd said that he understood and reiterated that the Australian government has always adhered to the one-China policy, which is its consistent position. Australia opposed a boycott of the Olympics and wished the sporting event success, Rudd said.

To develop bilateral relations, Wen proposed that both countries step up high-level exchanges and make full use of strategic dialogues and other consultation mechanisms to promote sound, stable development of bilateral ties. He urged both sides to advance free trade agreement talks for early consensus, develop win-win, long-term and stable cooperation in energy and resources and set up a roundtable mechanism at the ministerial level for business services to push forward cooperation in relevant areas. Wen also suggested both sides carry out closer cooperation in coping with climate change. Wen said that the two countries should enhance their exchanges in culture, education, science and technology, promote non-governmental exchanges especially contact among youth, strengthen coordination in the United Nations and regional Asia-Pacific organizations, and promote communication on major international and regional issues.

Rudd said that Australia was willing to be a lasting and reliable cooperative partner to China in the spheres of energy, resources and manufacturing. To improve the level of trade and economic cooperation, Australia was ready to speed up negotiations for the free trade agreement, he said. Rudd voiced his hopes of expanding cooperation in telecommunications, finance with China, maintaining consultations and developing technological cooperation on climate change.

Prior to the talks, Premier Wen Jiabao held a welcoming ceremony for Rudd's visit at the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Among those on the Chinese side who attended the welcoming ceremony were Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of Jiusan Society Shao Hong, Chairman of the State Development and Reform Commission (SDRC) Zhang Ping, Minister of Finance Xie Xuren, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Chinese Ambassador to Australia Zhang Junsai.

Following the talks, the two sides issued a joint statement on closer cooperation on climate change.