Canberra - Australia and China signed a landmark nuclear safeguards agreement on Monday, opening the way for major exports of uranium to fuel China's booming nuclear power industry.
Critics have charged that the deal, which officials said would not result in shipments for several years, paves the way for regional instability and environmental problems.
But Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Australian Prime Minister John Howard insisted safeguards existed to ensure the uranium would be used safely and for non-military purposes only.
At a joint press conference with Howard, Wen said China was a responsible member of the international community and would abide by the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the principles of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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"The agreement we entered today has provided safeguards for the peaceful purposes of our nuclear co-operation," China's number two leader said.
Howard, whose country holds some 40 percent of the world's known uranium reserves, said he had confidence in the safeguards agreed on Monday which ensure uranium is sold only to electricity utilities.
"I am satisfied that the safeguards that are there will be enforced and on that basis the agreement has been signed," Howard said.
Howard also hinted that the government could intervene if Australia were unable to meet uranium demand from China. Experts say Chinese demand would double the current exports of 20 000 tons of uranium as the Asian powerhouse drastically expands its nuclear power network.
Labor Party governments in Australian states and territories have until now blocked the further expansion of the uranium industry by refusing to allow more than three mines to open.
Australia already supplies 11 nations with uranium and a minister said it was unlikely that much would reach China before 2010.
"Australia is already fully committed in terms of uranium production through until about 2008, bearing in mind that the signing of this agreement means that this is really only the start of the process," Resources and Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane told ABC radio.
"Realistically in terms of any significant quantity we are probably looking at some time past 2010."
Wen, on a four-day visit to Australia to secure energy and trade deals, said he was keen for more regular high-level talks between the two nations.
Howard said that while real differences remained between Australia and the communist government in Beijing, which is widely accused of human rights violations, these should not be a barrier to improving relations.
"Of all the... major relationships Australia has with other countries, none has been more completely transformed than the relationship with China over the last 10 years," he said.
"The best way to build the relationship further is to continue doing what China and Australia do best and that's to understand our fundamental differences, to be realistic about those differences, but nonetheless focus on the areas of common interest where we can fully co-operate."
Speaking later at a lunch, Howard said that Australia's close relationship with the US, which has been ambivalent about China's rising power, would not have an impact on growing Sino-Australian ties driven by burgeoning trade.
Exports to China have quadrupled in the past decade, reaching A$12,9-billion in 2004-2005.
Professor Hugh White, of the Australian National University's school of Pacific and Asian studies, said trade was not the only impetus for the stronger ties as Beijing sought to build political and strategic influence with Canberra.
"I think Australia is regarded as quite an important target, precisely because we are such a close ally of the US," he said.
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