China and Australia agreed to boost cooperation and exchanges in various fields while jointly opposing rising protectionism, Premier Li Keqiang said when meeting with Australia’s Governor-General Peter Cosgrove on March 23 in Canberra.

Without peace and stability comes no welfare for the people, and China is willing to work with Australia in safeguarding regional stability and world peace while jointly opposing protectionism and building an open global economy, Premier Li said.

Cosgrove said recent years have seen frequent high-level exchanges between the two countries, with expanded dialogues and fruitful achievements in local and people-to-people exchanges. He said Australia would like to see and will benefit from a consistently and fast-growing Chinese economy.

Australia is willing to expand exchanges and cooperation in all fields and at all levels to move forward bilateral relations, the Governor-General added.