An online meeting was held on Tuesday to mark the 35th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Zhejiang province and the state of Western Australia.

Wang Hao, governor of Zhejiang, and Mark McGowan, premier of Western Australia, signed an agreement to further deepen relations between the two and delivered speeches at the virtual meeting.

Wang Hao and Mark McGowan sign an agreement to further deepen relations between the two sides at the online meeting. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Wang Hao pointed out in his speech that Zhejiang, at the forefront of China's opening-up and an important hub of the Belt and Road Initiative, is a participant, witness, contributor, and beneficiary of the development of China-Australia relations.

The province is aiming to accelerate its high-quality development and strengthen efforts to build itself into a demonstration zone for common prosperity, providing a broader space for cooperation between the two sides, he added.

The renewed agreement has provided more opportunities for both Zhejiang and West Australia to work together in primary industries, technology, new energy, and the health and life sciences. In addition, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to keep supporting people-to-people exchanges between schools, business councils and government agencies.

The signing of the agreement not only strengthens Zhejiang-West Australia economic links, but also solidifies Western Australia's commitment to a mutually beneficial relationship between the two regions, Mark McGowan said.

Zhejiang and West Australia have been proactively exploring opportunities to collaborate in innovation and technology, as well as emerging industries since the 8th meeting of the Western Australia-Zhejiang Exchange Committee in 2021, a regular exchange mechanism for the two sides.