China growth a good thing: Australian FM
(AAP)
Updated: 2006-03-12 09:38

The US and Australia do not want to contain China's emerging economic and political might, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has said.

Mr Downer praised China's approach to regional politics ahead of talks this week with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who flies into Sydney on Thursday for two days of bilateral talks.

It will be her first official visit to Australia.

Mr Downer said Australia and the US were united in their belief that China's growth would be a positive development for the Asia-Pacific region.

"The Americans share our view that, with the rise of China, we don't want to pursue a policy of containment," Mr Downer said on ABC Television.

"We want to pursue a policy of successful engagement.

"There's nothing wrong with the growing economic power of China.

"It's a good thing for Australia ... and I think it's a good thing for the world in many respects."

Mr Downer said China acknowledged it needed to exercise its power responsibly, in recognition of its growing importance in world affairs.

"As China's economic weight grows, so its political weight in the region and beyond is going to grow," he said.

"That has to be recognised, accommodated, and China has to use that growing weight with a high degree of responsibility.

"My view is that China has (has) been using that growing political weight responsibly.

"We want to see the growth of China, we want to see greater prosperity in the region, but we want to make sure that power is appropriately balanced in the region.

"I think the Chinese understand and recognise that."

Mr Downer said he and Ms Rice would discuss the strained relationship between China and Japan during their official talks this week.

"The Sino-Japanese relationship is a point of some concern for many of us in the region, and I guess that will be one of the issues that we'll talk about during Condoleezza Rice's visit," he said.