China and Australia pledged to ramp up efforts to complete their nearly decadelong work on a free trade agreement, Premier Li Keqiang and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Wednesday.

Li met with Abbott in Sanya, Hainan province. Abbott is attending the Boao Forum for Asia, held from Tuesday to Friday.

"Signing a bilateral FTA as soon as possible is an important consensus being shared between China and Australia," Li said. "We hope both sides carry forward the talks in a pragmatic way, make mutual concessions and ensure mutual benefits."