Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to three nations would help advance bilateral relations between China and the three nations, said a senior official on Monday.

"The visit will cement and promote our political mutual trust and traditional friendship," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told Xinhua.

Li will pay an official visit to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea from October 29 to November 5 at the invitation of governments of the three countries.

"This is an important visit paid recently by Chinese leader to the south Pacific region," He said, noting that the three governments attached great importance to the visit.

During the visit, Li will meet with the leaders of the three nations, attend the signing ceremony of bilateral agreements and make extensive contacts with officials of local governments, businessmen and peoples from all circles, according to He.

The visit would help promote friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between China and the three countries in trade, energy, resources, science, education and other fields, and strengthen bilateral coordination in international and regional affairs, he noted.

Hailing the considerable progress in recent years, He said the Chinese government had always attached great importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with the three countries.

"We always grasp the development direction of bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, adhere to the five principles of peaceful co-existence, and stick to the spirit of mutual benefit to strengthen our dialogue and cooperation," He noted.

"Seeking peace, development and cooperation is our common voice," He said, noting that in many ways, China's relations with the three countries faced a huge potential and rare opportunity for development.

He also provided detailed statistics to show the growth of bilateral relations, saying that economies of China and the three nations were highly complementary.

Australia is China's eighth largest trading partner and an important supplier of energy resources. Bilateral trade volume with Australia in 2008 reached $59.66 billion.

New Zealand is the first developed country which signed and implemented the bilateral free trade agreement with China. Both Australia and New Zealand recognized China's full market economy status.

Papua New Guinea for many years is China's largest trading partner and investment destination in the Pacific island region.

According to incomplete statistics, at present, there are 130,000 Chinese students studying in Australia, and about 34,870 studying in New Zealand. The people-to-people exchanges between China and Papua New Guinea is also very active.

"Facts show that the development of the relationship between China and these countries has a solid foundation, and accords with the common interests of both sides," He noted.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2009)