Chinese VP wants trade deal with Oz

CANBERRA, Australia - China is keen to strike a free trade pact with Australia soon and opposes any return to protectionism in response to the global economic crisis, China's vice-president said Monday.

Xi Jinping is on the final leg of a four-nation tour that also took him to Bangladesh, Laos and New Zealand.

His visit to Australia has focused on its burgeoning exports of iron ore, coal and natural gas that feed the voracious appetite of Chinese manufacturing.