China's foreign minister takes a swipe at Abbott's 'closest friend' remark
China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, has apparently taken a swipe at the Abbott government after arriving in Australia.
Mr Wang made a reference to a controversial comment from prime minister Tony Abbott, who broke the common rule of not ranking diplomatic relationships when he said that Japan was Australia's "closest friend in Asia".
"China may not be Australia's closest friend at the moment but we can surely become your most sincere friend," said Mr Wang.
He added that Australia was a "key co-operation power" for China in the Asian region.
"China welcomes and supports Australia to further understand Asia and to integrate into Asia," he said.
"And of course, we would also like Australia to play an active role as a bridge and as a link between the East and the West."
Mr Wang is in the country for the second annual Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, which comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Brisbane for the G20 summit in November.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop welcomed her Chinese counterpart to Sydney and says the two nations were "on track" to sign a free-trade agreement this year strengthening their relationship.
She said that relations with the Asian powerhouse were based on strong foundations, despite "inevitable differences that emerge from time to time".
"The Australia-China relationship is strong, it is mature, it is growing," Ms Bishop said at a media conference with Mr Wang on Sunday.
"China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner. We are on track to sign a free-trade agreement with China later this year which will further strengthen this relationship."
The trade talks began in 2005, but stalled last year over agriculture and China's insistence on removing investment limits for state-owned enterprises.
Over the past year Australia has sealed free trade deals with Japan and South Korea.
The bilateral talks follow Australia's push to forge closer ties with Japan, China's regional rival. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a historic visit to Canberra and Perth in July.
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi (second right) waits withAustralia's foreign minister Julie Bishop for the commence of 4th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. Photo: AP/Gemunu Amarasinghe
Ms Bishop said the bilateral talks came at a time of "great global challenge" and were an opportunity to discuss the movement of citizens from the two countries to Iraq and Syria to fight for violent jihadist groups such as the Islamic State.
"The conflict in Syria and Iraq affects both our nations, for foreign fighters are leaving our shores to take part in the brutal and bloody conflict in the Middle East," she said.
"Our meeting together affords us an opportunity to discuss ways that we together can combat terrorism and extremism such as we've seen with the emergence of ISIL," she said.
