SYDNEY, Nov. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Australia-China relationship will continue to become one of the most important partnerships in the Asia Pacific region, one of Australia's most senior politicians has said.
Liberal Member of Federal Parliament, Philip Ruddock, was elected in 1973, the same year Australia and China formed diplomatic relations. He has served as attorney-general, and in other senior ministerial positions, and was this month appointed chair of the Australia China Parliamentary Friendship Group.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, the 71-year-old Sydney- based politician said the evolution of both China and Australia has helped form a more harmonious relationship, and has enabled both nations to become closer and to work more positively together.
"The differences are not as stark and Australia is not seen as a one-dimensional society, we are seen as a Eurasian society, and country much closer to Asia as we would have expected," Ruddock said.
"Our relationship with China is particularly important, I think we can be an enormous help to China. I think China's explosion on the world stage and the growth of its economy and all that it has brought is significant for Australia as well.
"There are opportunities for both Australia and China to work close together as time goes on. Our relationships are not perfect, we have to work on them as time goes by."
As negotiators from China and Australia finalize the details of the proposed free trade agreement between the two countries, Ruddock said this important trade deal will be beneficial to both nations.
"Free trade is good for everyone. Australia has been a country that has lived with protectionism. Protection is protecting one's interest and it's often quite narrow but what it does mean is that if you do protect it everybody else pays," he said.
"Free trade can give you a higher standard of living, cheaper access to goods and services and can be extraordinarily beneficial for growth in an economy. The freer our trade the better the outcome it will be for both Australia and China."
Ruddock reflected on his four decades in parliament and the way his attitude has changed towards China.
"China has shown an enormous capacity for change, I think the change has been positive and I think a lot of Chinese has seen this as positive."
Ruddock said as China has changed, so has Australia, and has become a more inclusive member of the Asia Pacific regional community.
"Our relationship has blossomed over 40 years. There is no doubt we came from different political conditions back in the 1970s, and China in the 1970s is a very different place than China is today. I think Australia has evolved but I think China has evolved as well," Ruddock said.
"Looking back, I would never have thought I'd look at a China that was just as much conscious about capital and investment and business opportunities not only through government-owned enterprises but the private sector. It was never a China I thought I'd see. It is a very different China today. Australia is different, too, being a much more multicultural."
Ruddock said he was impressed with China's peaceful rise to power, and its peaceful unification in which there was one China, and different systems.
"I like the way China has dealt with a lot of other issues. One of the organizations that has impressed me is the organization for the peaceful unification of China. Peaceful. We can have one China, with a number of systems. I think this is tremendously creative," he said.
"I think one China, two systems, the peaceful reunification of China, with the emphasis on peaceful is the way forward. China can be very creative about these things. I think China as a nation state has enormous potential for creativity."
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