Australia pays attention to Chinese economic data: Treasurer

Special Report: Global Financial Crisis

CANBERRA, April 13 (Xinhua)-- Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan said on Monday economic data from China would be of particular interest to Australia.

New figures on economies of China and the United States to be released this coming week will give Australia a reading on the health of two of the most important international economies, Swan said in his weekly economic note released this morning.

"China, our biggest trading partner, will announce its economic growth for the first quarter of 2009," he said, "China's growth prospects are absolutely critical to Australia's exports and commodity prices."

The Rudd's government is preparing to deliver its second budget on May 12 in the midst of the worst economic conditions in 75 years.

"We are determined to deliver a responsible budget that gets the balance right between supporting growth and jobs now, while putting in place the building blocks of the future economy we need to prosper after this global recession ends," Swan said. ??