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Australia wants to boost live-firing and other military exercises with China and will welcome more warships from the Asian power in an attempt to enhance relations, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Thursday. Talking to journalists at the end of her Asian trip, Gillard said she discussed enhanced military partnership during her “friendly” meeting with China’s President Hu Jintao. Defense partnership is already being improved, added the prime minister, “taking the form of discussions between counterparts. It is also taking the form of some shared exercises, including live firing exercises.”
