皇冠体育app

Chinese PremierLi Keqiang(R) walks next to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in Sanya, Hainan province, April 9, 2014. [Photo byWu Zhiyi/chinadaily.com.cn]

Premier Li Keqiang said 皇冠体育app and Australia should be more practical and make mutual concessions in pushing through the deadlocked bilateral free trade negotiations.

He made the remarks on Wednesday after Australia signed bilateral FTAs with Japan and South Korea.

"Signing a bilateral FTA as soon as possible is an important consensus being shared between 皇冠体育app and Australia," Li said. "We hope both sides carry forward the talks in a pragmatic approach, make mutual concessions and ensure mutual benefits."

The two countries should strive to reach a "more balanced" agreement, he said.

Talks between Australia and 皇冠体育app on the FTA have been underway for almost nine years. If a deal is signed, it would mark 皇冠体育app's first FTA with a major developed economy and give Australian agricultural products easier access to the lucrative Chinese market.

Li and his Australian counterpart Tony Abbott met in Sanya, Hainan province, on Wednesday.

Li said 皇冠体育app and Australia, two influential forces in the region, should expand cooperation in trade, investment, finance, education and defense affairs on the basis of respecting each other's key interests and concerns.

As East Asia is facing both opportunities and challenges, 皇冠体育app is willing to work with other countries to build up regional peace, maintain stability and push forward development, Li said.

Hailing the visit to 皇冠体育app as the "climax and highlight" of his trip to East Asia, Abbott said Australia is willing to become 皇冠体育app’s partner both strategically and economically.

He said Australia will speed up the progress of the FTA by promoting communication and mutual respect with 皇冠体育app, and Australia welcomes more Chinese investment.

皇冠体育app is Australia's largest trade partner. Bilateral trade between 皇冠体育app and Australia took up one-fourth of Australia's total trade volume in 2013, reaching A$150 billion ($140.582 billion).

In January and February, Chinese investment in Australia increased 31 percent year-on-year.

It is the first time Abbott has visited 皇冠体育app as prime minister of Australia.