Chinese leader meets Gillard for talks

The number two in the Chinese government, Executive Vice Premier Li Keqiang, has met
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard for talks in Sydney.
Ms Gillard has said she and Mr Li would discuss enhancing trade and economic ties at
Friday's talks, as well as other bilateral issues such as education.
But the talks are possibly more significant than their content.
Mr Li's visit apparently marks a thawing in diplomatic relations, after the fiasco
of Chinalco's attempt to invest in Rio Tinto and the subsequent arrest of Rio Tinto
executive Stern Hu on suspicion of corporate espionage in China.
In June this year, Rio Tinto announced it was abandoning a proposed $19.5 billion
investment deal with Chinalco, which is majority-owned by the Chinese government.
Mr Li will meet Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in Canberra later on Friday after giving a
speech to the Australia China Business Council.
An editorial this week in China's English language Global Times newspaper, a
mouthpiece for the government, said Australia played a special role in helping
China's engagement with western nations.
"Further communication and an understanding of how indispensable each side is to the
other are the only ways to stabilise relations," it said.
"China needs to understand the importance of Australia and its special nature.
"Existing somewhere between the East and the West, it is often seen as a white
knight of sorts that assists China in breaking containment."