DAPENG, China, June 28 (UPI) -- Australian and Chinese leaders Wednesday celebrated the official beginning of Australian LNG shipments to China, Radio Australia reported.
A ceremony in Dapeng, near Shenzhen in China, saw Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao commemorate the gas deal, which involves a 25-year contract worth $18 billion covering the commercial shipping of Australian liquefied natural gas to China.
Speaking at the ceremony, Howard called the day a momentous occasion in the two countries' bilateral relations, and one that is symbolic of what the two nations can achieve in the spirit of cooperation.
Wen declared the ceremony to be the beginning of a new phase in bilateral relations between his country and Australia, and added that he hoped the two countries would continue on the path of energy cooperation.
