Australian state signs cooperation agreement on Belt, Road Initiative

China welcomed on Monday the signing of a cooperation agreement on jointly building the Belt and Road by the Australian state of Victoria, the first Australian state to sign such a deal.

"The Victoria government has seized the opportunity," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. "Deepening cooperation with China will definitely bring more chances and benefits to the state."

China is optimistic about the broad prospects of mutually beneficial cooperation with Victoria, Lu said at a regular news conference in Beijing.