(Transcript from SBS World News Radio)
China's foreign minister Wang Yi appears to have used his visit to Australia for bilateral talks to criticise a Government remark on the Australia-Japan relationship.
Mr Wang, meeting with his Australian counterpart Julie Bishop on trade security, has made a reference to a controversial comment by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
Earlier this year, Mr Abbott broke the common rule of not ranking diplomatic relationships when he said Japan was Australia's closest friend in Asia.
But as Amanda Cavill reports, Mr Wang's comments seem unlikely to have any lasting impact on the China-Australia relationship.
(Click on the audio tab above to hear the full report)
The meeting comes ahead of China's President Xi Jinping visiting Brisbane for the G20 summit in November.
Australia and China are expected to sign a free trade agreement there, strengthening their bilateral 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.
In the meantime, over the past year, Australia has sealed free trade deals with Japan and South Korea.
And this week's 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.
Speaking through a translator, Mr Wang has acknowledged there may be differences between his nation and Australia, but he says they are not insurmountable.
And Mr Wang says China may not be Australia's closest friend at the moment but can surely become Australia's most sincere friend.
"China and Australia have different histories, different cultural traditions and different social systems. But it's because of all the difference that the world is such a colourful and dynamic place. Ancient Chinese wisdom teaches that two gentlemen with different characters can have a harmonious relationship. Given all the differences, it's still possible for us to admire each other and embrace each other and seek a higher level of agreement on longer-term goals."
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has welcomed her Chinese counterpart's visit for the second annual Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue.
Ms Bishop says the Australia-China relationship is strong and mature and will only continue to strengthen.
"The strength of our relationship is evidenced by the high-level meetings that have occurred recently, including Prime Minister Abbott's very successful visit to China in April. The Australia-China relationship is strong, it is mature, and it is growing. Our strategic partnership is based on the fact that we have a very strong economic relationship, for China is Australia's largest two way trading partner."
Mr Wang says Australia is an important member of the Asia-Pacific community.
And he says Australia is a major cooperative power for China in the Asian region.
"Australia is a regional power with international influence. And it is a key cooperation partner for China in its extended neighborhood. China welcomes and supports Australia to further understand Asia and to integrate into Asia. 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."
Ms Bishop says the bilateral talks come at a time of great global challenge.
She says they are an opportunity to discuss the movement of citizens from the two countries to Iraq and Syria to fight for violent militant groups such as the Islamic State, or ISIL.
"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. Australia and China will stand firm against terrorism and extremism. Our meeting 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."
This is Ms Bishop's fourth meeting with the Chinese Foreign Minister since last December.
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