Free China-Australia ties from alienation

• Source: Global Times
• [00:51 October 27 2009]
• Comments

Further communication and an understanding of how indispensable each side is to the other are the only ways to stabilize relations.

China needs to understand the importance of Australia and its special nature. Existing somewhere between the East and the West, it is often seen as a white knight of sorts that assists China in breaking containment.

A country rich in natural resources like minerals and wool, Australia is an important supplier of raw material for China, the world's factory.

China is equally important to Australia, being its largest trade partner, its largest export market, and its second-largest source of imports. Chinese are important customers of its travel industry.

The two countries depend on each other deeply. In retrospect, the setback in the past months was not completely unforeseeable given the closeness bilateral relations have already reached.

The two countries have different political systems and ideological differences, meaning the media and public in both nations should handle setbacks in bilateral relations with patience.

Issues that cross the bottom line of what either side will tolerate need to be handled with special care.

China has kept good momentum in building relations with other Oceanian countries.

Of the other two countries that Vice Premier Li Keqiang will visit, New Zealand was the first among developed countries to recognize China's market economy status, and the first to start bilateral free trade.

Dairy products from New Zealand are popular choices among Chinese consumers.

Papua New Guinea is the largest recipient of Chinese investment among Pacific island countries.

A promising economic and strategic blueprint is shaping up, as China deepens its diplomatic and economic cooperation with Australia, New Zealand and other Oceanian countries.

In the process, disputes, misunderstandings and conflicts of interest may well appear.

But these situations can be mended as long as all parties adopt a principle of mutual respect and benefit.

We should be alert for those few who try to destroy cooperation and stir up trouble.