Australian prime minister holds welcoming ceremony for visiting Chinese premier

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull holds a grand welcoming ceremony for visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Canberra, Australia, on March 23, 2017. [Photo: gov.cn]

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull held a grand welcoming ceremony for visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Canberra, Australia, on Thursday.

Premier Li arrived in the Australian capital of Canberra Wednesday night for an official visit.

It is the first trip to the Oceanian country by a Chinese premier in 11 years.

Premier Li and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull will hold the fifth annual meeting of the two prime ministers. They will also attend a forum on China-Australia economic and trade cooperation.

Both sides are going to discuss their free trade agreement, which took effect in December 2015, and ways to further boost bilateral cooperation in technology, trade and investment, energy, education and tourism.

During his five-day stay, Li is also expected to meet Australia's Governor-General Peter Cosgrove and parliamentary officials.

China is Australia's largest trading partner. Bilateral trade hit 108 billion U.S. dollars last year. Accumulative two-way investment exceeded 100 billion dollars.

Australia attracts an increasing number of Chinese tourists and students. Last year, the country received a record of more than 1.2 million Chinese visitors.

The Chinese premier will also pay an official visit to New Zealand after his Australian trip.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull holds a grand welcoming ceremony for visiting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Canberra, Australia, on March 23, 2017. [Photo: gov.cn]