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Despite the economic slowdown, China's economic expansion plan for the 2011 15 period and its increasingly surging demand for commodities such as iron ore and coal will continue to spur growth in Australia, China's top envoy to Australia said.

The economic slowdown could "affect China's demand for mineral goods in the short term, but from a long-term perspective, it is unnecessary for us to worry about the Chinese economy and its demand or to hold any doubts about the closer bilateral economic and trade relations between China and Australia," said Chen Yuming, China's ambassador to the resource-rich nation.

"China will continue to be the growth engine of the Australian and global economies in the next five years," he said.

The global financial crisis and eurozone debt woes have taken a toll on developed economies. The United States, with a stubbornly high unemployment rate, has launched its third round of quantitative easing, also called QE3.

Unlike previous programs, the third round has no defined limit and will continue until the labor market improves.

And while many European countries, especially Greece and Spain, face mounting debt problems, the European Central Bank recently sent its strongest signal that it will use unlimited monetary resources to save the euro.

"Australia is the only OECD nation that has not been affected by the global financial fluctuation and has led growth among developed nations since 2008," Chen said.

"China and Australia are increasingly reliant on each other. Both need each other so much," Chen said.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Questions:

1.What are some commodities that China buys from Australia?

2. Which is the only country in the OECD that has been unaffected by the global financial crisis?

3. How many years ago did China establish diplomatic relations with Australia?

Answers:

1. iron ore, coal.

2. Australia.

3. 40 years.

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.