China and Australia on Tuesday evening held a reception to mark the 25th anniversary of development cooperation between the two countries.

"The aid program to China provided by Australia commenced 25 years ago. So far we have a total of 139 development cooperation projects involving 600 million Australian dollars," Yu Jianhua, head of the International Department of China's Ministry of Commerce, said at the reception.

The reception was co-hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).

Yu said the projects covered a wide range of areas including agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, education, and health care, among others.

"The anniversary represents a sea change in our relationship," said Annmaree O'Keeffe, AusAID's deputy director general.

"In future our partnership will be focused on supporting equity in China's development and addressing the factors that underpin poverty and less on direct poverty alleviation," O'Keeffe said.

She said the partnership will focus on higher-level engagement centered on policy, planning and management, particularly at the national level.

More than 100 officials and experts from the two countries attended the reception.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-Australia diplomatic ties.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2007)