BEIJING, March 20 -- Liu Jieyi, vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, met here with Dennis Richardson AO, Secretary of the Department of Defence of Australia at the request of the latter and exchanged views with him on China-Australia relations among other issues.

Liu said that the Asia-Pacific region, maintaining currently a sound momentum of development, has gradually become a growth engine of the world economy. China and Australia, as important countries in the Asia-Pacific, should strengthen cooperation and jointly prioritize the agenda of promoting development of the Asia-Pacific region, so as to benefit people of both countries and of the region.

Richardson stressed that Australia welcomes China's rise and is willing to work together with the Chinese side to contribute to the peace, stability, development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

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