Premier Li Keqiang meets Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove in Beijing on March 30.[Photo by Du Yang/China News Service]

China and Australia expressed expectations for the early signing and implementation of a bilateral free trade agreement when Premier Li Keqiang met the visiting Australian Governor-General Peter Cosgrove in Beijing on March 30.

Cosgrove is in China for a state visit and the 2015 Boao Forum for Asia.

During their meeting, the Premier called for combined efforts in promoting sustainable and diversified development of trade and investment cooperation, and to sign and implement the FTA as soon as possible.

Beijing and Canberra are highly complementary in terms of their economies and bilateral cooperation is a key driving force of ties, he said.

The Premier encouraged a wider use of RMB by Australian companies and banks in bilateral trade and investment, to boost the development of an RMB offshore center in Sydney.

China is willing to expand cultural exchanges with Australia in areas such as education and tourism, and invite more people to participate in such efforts, he said.

The Premier also appreciated the momentum of current China-Australia relations, saying both countries have been dedicated to keeping peace and stability in the region and the world.

China is willing to work with Australia in facilitating strategic trust and deepening mutual cooperation, to bring the bilateral relationship to a new level, he said.

For his part, Cosgrove said he is glad that China is the destination of his first overseas trip as the governor-general.

Australia and China enjoy huge potential in trade and investment cooperation as well as people-to-people communication, he said.

Australia expects the early signing of bilateral FTA, to promote further progress in bilateral economic relationship, the general-governor said.

Cosgrove also said during their meeting that Australia has applied to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.