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Chinese premier calls for China-Australia trade expansion for win-win cooperation

China

China

China

Chinese premier calls for China-Australia trade expansion for win-win cooperation

2026-04-07 20:35 Last Updated At:23:07

China's vast market will remain open to the world, and China is willing to import more high-quality products from Australia, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Tuesday.

In a phone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Li said that China stands ready to work with Australia to expand and upgrade bilateral trade, support enterprises from both countries in conducting cooperation based on market principles, and promote mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Amid the current complex and volatile international situation, with the global economy continuously affected by geopolitical turbulence and protectionism, China and Australia, as important cooperative partners, should steer their bilateral relations in the right direction, strive to foster and maintain a positive atmosphere, and consolidate the positive momentum in bilateral relations and cooperation, Li said.

China is ready to work with Australia to follow through on the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Albanese last year, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen communication and coordination, consolidate mutual political trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, inject momentum into the development of the two countries and provide more stability for the region and the world at large, he said.    Li noted that China-Australia economic and trade cooperation has strong internal momentum and still holds great potential in the long run. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will adhere to expanding domestic demand as a strategic priority, vigorously boost consumption, promote a marked increase in the household consumption rate, and continuously unleash market demand, he said.

Both sides should accelerate the review and upgrade discussions of the bilateral free trade agreement to provide stronger institutional support for cooperation, Li said.

There is great potential for China-Australia green cooperation, and China is willing to leverage complementary advantages with Australia to deepen cooperation in such areas as clean energy, electric vehicles, energy storage and carbon reduction, jointly building stronger momentum for the development of the green economy, he added.

For his part, Albanese said the Australian government has always been committed to developing a stable, mature and constructive relationship with China. Under the current international circumstances, the steady development of Australia-China relations is particularly important, he said.

Australia has long adhered to the one-China policy and is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, expand cooperation in trade, investment, mining, clean energy and people-to-people exchanges, properly manage differences in the spirit of mutual respect, and advance the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

Albanese said he looks forward to visiting China to attend the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. Australia is willing to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with China to address global challenges and promote world peace, stability and development, he added.

Chinese premier calls for China-Australia trade expansion for win-win cooperation

Chinese premier calls for China-Australia trade expansion for win-win cooperation

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on Tuesday that if the U.S. army crosses the red line in attacking civilian targets, Iran's response "will go beyond the region."

In a statement published on its official news outlet Sepah News, the IRGC said: "We will not hesitate to retaliate vile aggressions against civilian facilities."

It came as tensions rose on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump made a social media post in which he threatened Iran's "whole civilization will die tonight," if they fail to meet the deadline he had set to reach a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a possible sharp escalation of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

On the same day, the IRGC announced that as part of the 99th wave of its ongoing "Operation True Promise 4," it has launched attacks on more than 30 targets across central, southern, and inland areas of Israel, covering Rishon LeZion and Petah Tikva in Central Israel, Beersheba, Dimona, and Arad in Negev region, and around ten locations in Tel Aviv.

It added that further retaliations would intensify, with Israeli industrial facilities, infrastructure and military bases all identified as potential targets.

The IRGC also said on Tuesday it had carried out strikes on U.S. bases and other targets in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as on military command centers in the occupied Palestinian territories as part of the 99th wave of its operation.

According to the statement, the operations, jointly conducted by the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force, carried out attacks with ballistic and cruise missiles along with attack drones in response to earlier strikes on petrochemical plants and affiliated facilities in Iran's southern coastal city of Asaluyeh.

The IRGC further claimed it had launched a long-range missile attack against the U.S. Navy's Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, which is reportedly deployed in the Indian Ocean.

Separately, media reports said a large petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia's Jubail, which was owned by a U.S. company, was hit by medium-range missiles and drones.

Another container vessel, reportedly linked to Israel and believed to be preparing to transport military equipment from the Khor Fakkan port in the United Arab Emirates, was also said to have been struck.

Iran's IRGC vows "beyond the region" response if US hits civilian targets

Iran's IRGC vows "beyond the region" response if US hits civilian targets

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