At noon of March 24, 2017 local time, Premier Li Keqiang and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia jointly met the press and answered questions after the fifth China-Australia Annual Prime Ministerial Meeting.

The Chinese Premier and Australian Prime Minister introduced the results of their meeting, noting that both sides had extensive, in-depth and candid exchanges on China-Australia relations and cooperation. They agreed that both sides should work together to open up broader prospects for China-Australia relations and cooperation.

Li Keqiang expressed that with the uncertainties in the current world, China and Australia should jointly safeguard trade liberalization and maintain regional stability and world peace. Both sides should proactively deliberate on free trade agreement to provide support for expanding trade scope and investment facilitation, ushering in the era of comprehensive free trade between China and Australia. The two countries should also enhance cooperation in education and culture to jointly promote the co-existence and diversity of global cultures as well as exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

In response to the questions about Australia's foreign policy, China-Australia relations and US-Australia relations, Li Keqiang pointed out that, China adheres to the independent foreign policy of peace and respects Australia's foreign policy formulated according to its own national conditions. China always insists that all countries, big or small, are equal, and advocates to develop relations with other countries under the principle of mutual respect and equal treatment and in the spirit of openness and inclusiveness. Hence, there is no targeted third party in China-Australia relations, nor the issue of taking sides. We hope that the relations among relevant countries can benefit free trade as well as the stability and peace of the region and the world. It is hoped that China-Australia relations are not only beneficial to China and Australia, but also conform to the stability and peace of other countries and regions.

Malcolm Turnbull warmly welcomed Premier Li Keqiang's official visit to Australia on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China. He said that he had a fruitful meeting with Premier Li Keqiang, and both sides summarized the development achievements of bilateral relations over the past 45 years. Australia and China share broad common interests and have continually expanded cooperation fields. Since the implementation of Australia-China free trade agreement, both sides have brought tangible interests to each other. Australia highly praises the long historical tradition, and tremendous development achievements of China. Australia has always attached great importance to developing its relations with China and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in innovation, energy, agriculture, modern service industry, people-to-people and cultural engagement, law enforcement security and other areas, jointly promoting the peace and development of the region and the world.