Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang started a fence-mending visit to Australia on Friday by urging the government not to discriminate against Chinese investment, AP reported. Li"s first visit here in 13 years comes amid strained relations over alleged Australian government restrictions on Chinese investment in mining and the arrest of an Australian mining executive in China. China"s government has also protested to Australia over a recent visit here by Rebiya Kadeer, a U.S.-based ethnic Uighur Muslim from China"s west whom Beijing brands a terrorist. In his first public speech since he arrived in Australia, Li told an audience of businessmen in Sydney that China and Australia _ a key supplier of raw materials for Chinese manufacturers _ should focus on their economic relationship. «China appreciates Australia"s open foreign investment policy and we hope that Australia will continue to promote a nondiscriminatory policy with regard to foreign direct investment,» Li said through an interpreter. -- SPA
