Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Saturday that he expects to sign a free trade agreement with China in 2009.

Rudd was delivering a video speech to a two-day Caijing Annual Conference 2009 in Beijing, to highlight China's efforts in maintaining economic growth and combating the global financial crisis.

"In 2009, I hope that Australia and China will further develop bilateral trade and investment upon the current basis. My government is now working closely with China on the free trade agreement, and I hope we can finish our negotiations in 2009."

Rudd also praised the Chinese Government's economic stimulus package.

"Australia welcomes China's policies to curb the global financial crisis. China's current monetary and fiscal policies are not only significant to the country's own economic growth, but also to the regional and global economic development."

Rudd said his government has also issued a one-percent-GNP economic stimulus package to combat the global financial crisis. Most of the funds will go to infrastructure development and the education sector.

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