China is keen to boost security and strategic trust with Australia to promote the inclusive, sustainable and diversified development of the Asia-Pacific region, Premier Wen Jiabao said on Nov 20.

Wen was talking to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on the sidelines of the seventh East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.

His remarks came after Canberra said that it is trying to be more engaged with Asia — which is witnessing a staggering rise amid the world financial crisis — but that it is also trying to deepen security ties with its ally the United States.

The increasing military presence of Washington in Australia is widely believed to be aimed at containing China.

Gillard said Australia and China have enjoyed a relationship of growing maturity and great achievements in cooperation in many areas over the past 40 years.

Australia will maintain high-level exchanges with China, establish and optimize dialogue mechanisms, expand cooperation and bilateral ties based on mutual respect and benefit, she said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. China is Australia's largest trade partner.

The interdependence between the two economies keeps growing amid the global slowdown, so both sides should take this opportunity to promote the diversification of economic and trade relations, Wen said.

Wen also urged both sides to accelerate negotiations on a free trade agreement, as well as to encourage cooperation in the services industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, energy and mining, environmental protection and infrastructure construction.