Chinese President Xi Jinping urges Australia to embrace 'harmonious' partnership with Beijing
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China's President Xi Jinping has encouraged Australia towards greater strategic independence in the Asia-Pacific, facilitating closer relations with Beijing and by extension, an increased distancing from the US.
Speaking to the Australian Parliament ahead of the historic signing ceremony of a free trade agreement affecting 95 per cent of Australian exports when up and running, he said Australia and China could be on the cusp of a new joint partnership, if desired.
Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses members of the upper and lower houses. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
"We have every reason to go beyond a commercial partnership, to become strategic partners, who have shared vision and pursue common goals," he said in a landmark speech made during a post G20 bilateral visit.
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The 62-year old who became President in early 2013, told the joint sitting Australia could have more influence in the region if it pursued the path of a new closer strategic relationship with Beijing.
"We should be harmonious neighbours who stick together through good and bad," he said, notwithstanding Australia's formal treaty obligations under the Anzus alliance.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is introduced to members and senators by Prime Minister Tony Abbott following his address. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
"Australia is an influential country and we welcome Australia to play a more constructive role in the region.
"Our two countries should co-operate in disaster relief, counter-terrorism, maritime safety, and jointly meet various security challenges to our region."
The comments came in a series of carefully complements designed to convey Beijing's desire to see Canberra side with China, with whom he said Australia would never be at war, because the relationship would be close, and his country only wanted peace.
The proposed strategic closeness would put Australia in the compromising, and possibly unsustainable, position of being a central geographic and military partner to the US in its rebalancing towards the Asia-Pacific, also known as the "pivot", and of sharing strategic interests with China that run counter to the US.
President Xi said the time was right for Beijing and Canberra to work more closely to "sustain peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific".
But in a demonstration of how easily such a strategic re-posturing could prove, he signalled China would not back down in territorial disputes such as the one with Tokyo over a few rocky outcrops in the East China Sea.
"The Chinese government is ready to enhance dialogue and corporation with relevant countries to maintain freedom of navigation and the safety of maritime routes and ensure a maritime border of peace, tranquillity and co-operation [but] at the same time, the Chinese people will firmly uphold the core interests of China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity," he said.
In an apparent dig at the United States, with whom there is ongoing friction over territorial disputes between China, and US-aligned rival, Japan as well as the Philippines, he said said "war-like states" inevitably fall.
The softly spoken entreaty to Australia came as the Australian and Chinese economies took a major step towards integration by signing a free trade deal which when in full operation, will see 95 per cent of Australian exports sold into China's massive $10 trillion economy, without any tariffs.
*CheeseWiz seen laughing at the Australians
*CheeseWiz seen laughing at the Australians
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