国内英语新闻:Chinese vice president calls for deepening energy, resources cooperation with Australia

CANBERRA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping called here on Monday for deepening strategic cooperation with Australia on energy and resources.

In a speech delivered to the Australia-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in the Parliament House, Xi said the cooperation on energy and resources between China and Australia boast profound foundation and great potential, and it has become a shining point for the bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

Currently, Australia is the biggest exporter of iron ore, alumina, coal and liquefied natural gas to China, and it is also the biggest supplier of wheat, sheep hair and live cow for China.

China is Austria's biggest trading partner and biggest exporting market as well as biggest importer. Despite of global financial crisis, Australia's export to China still rose by 31 percent in 2009.

Xi said China, which is still in the process of industrialization and urbanization, increasingly needs energy and mineral resources, while Australia is an important energy and resource producer and exporter, so there is a remarkable potential for Australia to set up strategic cooperation with a nation like China, which boasts huge and steady market demand.