On September 7, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Sydney with Australia's Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd. During the meeting, both sides held talks in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

In recent years, bilateral relations have witnessed great progress and both sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in economy and trade, culture, education, science and technology, which brings important benefits to both countries and their peoples, Hu said. China will continue to view bilateral ties from the strategic and long-term perspective and is ready to work with the Australian side to push forward bilateral cooperation to a new level, he added. The Chinese president also expressed appreciation for the Labor Party's policy towards China, saying that China will never forget Labor's historical contribution to the development of the Sino-Australian ties. China believes that the Labor Party will as always make positive contributions to all-round, in-depth development of bilateral ties, he added.

Rudd said his party, which in history has made positive efforts to the development of bilateral ties, now attaches even greater importance to such ties and will continue to promote their long-term development and closer bilateral cooperation in such spheres as economy, trade, energy, education, culture and the hosting of the Olympic Games. He expressed hope that bilateral ties will have brighter prospects.

Hu also briefed Rudd China's stance on the Taiwan question. He said the secessionist activities of "Taiwan independence" seekers severely undermine not only China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also peace and stability in the region and the world at large. "We must firmly oppose such activities," Hu told the Labor leader. Rudd, for his part, said the Labor Party has been firmly pursuing the one China policy and the stance will not change. He said that the secessionist activities of "Taiwan independence" seekers are harmful to regional security, and that his party opposes "Taiwan independence" as well as the Taiwan authorities' activities seeking "a referendum on UN membership".

Wang Gang, alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, was also present at the meeting.