Rudd highlights shared wishes

China and Australia yesterday agreed to foster long-term cooperation "from a strategic perspective", despite having different points of view on Tibet.

In a talk with visiting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Premier Wen Jiabao called for fresh efforts to develop bilateral relations, including promoting negotiations for a free trade agreement, seeking "win-win" energy and resources cooperation and working more closely together on climate change.

Rudd said Australia is willing to be China's "reliable" long-term partner in the energy, resources and manufacturing industries, and hopes to expand cooperation in service industries such as finance and telecommunication. China overtook Japan last year to become Australia's biggest trading partner.