Australian FM says China's development is opportunity, not threat

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Monday that her country values its relations with China and sees China's development as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' conference, May 21, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

She made the remarks during a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 foreign ministers' conference.

The recent spate of negative reports about China by Australian media are not accurate and do not represent the viewpoints of the Australian government, said Bishop.

China's sustainable success is good for Australia and the rest of the world -- that's the mainstream opinion about China in Australia, she added.

China and Australia are two countries with many differences, and it is normal for them to have some disputes, Bishop said, adding that the Australian side is willing to show goodwill, rationally manage bilateral disputes, avoid misjudgments and continue to promote bilateral ties.

Wang said the recent difficulties facing bilateral relations due to what the Australian side has done have dampened exchanges and cooperation between the two countries and that is something China does not wish to see.

China has taken a development path different from that of other major countries, featuring no interference in other countries' internal affairs and no intention to infiltrate other nations, said Wang.

"Our goal is to conduct cooperation on an equal footing with all the other countries including Australia and to achieve win-win results," he added.

China has noticed the various statements made by senior Australian officials asking to improve ties with China, and China is ready to communicate with the Australian side over the issue, he said.

The Australian side should "take off its tinted glass" against China and make efforts to push forward bilateral cooperation rather than dampen the prospect of relations, said the Chinese minister.