Premier Wen Jiabao wound up his four-nation Asia-Pacific tour following an
official visit to Cambodia on Saturday, which Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said
was "fruitful" and "rich in content."
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| Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao waves to well-wishers upon his arrival in Phnom Penh to
strengthen bilateral ties April 7, 2006. [Reuters] |
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The
eight-day visit also took Wen to Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand. During the
visit, Wen attended the inauguration of the China-Pacific islands economic
development forum in Fiji. This is the first visit by a Chinese premier to the
South Pacific.
A total of 70 bilateral or multilateral diplomatic activities took place and
59 agreements and documents were signed during the tour.
The premier's visit has elevated the level of bilateral relations between
China and the four nations, Li told reporters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at the
end of Wen's visit on Saturday.
"It helps promote the mutually beneficial partnership with Australia and New
Zealand in key areas and build a platform for friendship and co-operation with
the Asia-Pacific Islands," Li said.
Premier Wen held "pragmatic and constructive" discussions with the leaders of
Australia and New Zealand for co-operation in trade, energy and mineral
resources. He also agreed to seek common development through equal
consultations, Li said.
In addition, uranium-rich Australia agreed to export the resource to China
for the peaceful use of nuclear energy during Wen's visit to the country.
China has reached a consensus with Australia to achieve "substantial
progress" in the talks of the establishment of the free trade area within one or
two years, Li said.
At Wen's last stop, China and Cambodia signed 11 new agreements in areas
including health, telecommunications, fighting transnational crimes and
preserving Cambodia's famed 800-year-old Angkor Temples, a major overseas
destination for Chinese tourists.