Chinese president meets Australian prime minister

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-09 20:07

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (L) introduces members of his delgation to China's President Hu Jintao prior to a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on August 9, 2008. [Agencies]

BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Saturday with Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday night.

Hu expressed the belief that Australian athletes would perform well at the Beijing Games.

The opening ceremony was exciting and impressive, and the cauldron lighting in particular was very unique and original, Rudd said.

The development of Sino-Australian relations has maintained a good momentum and is showing a promising future, President Hu said.

Faced with a complex and changing global financial situation and soaring petroleum and grain prices, China and Australia should join hands to cope with the global challenges, Hu said.

"We'd like to work together with Australia to deepen our practical cooperation in extensive fields, steadily promote the negotiations on bilateral free trade agreement, and push forward our comprehensive cooperation based on mutual benefits," Hu said.

Rudd said Australia hopes to strengthen practical cooperation with China, and will adhere to the one-China principle.