Senior Chinese official Jia Qinglin said in Beijing Monday that
China values ties with Austria and hopes to further friendly
cooperation with Austria and the EU on the basis of mutual benefit
and mutual respect.
In a meeting with Vice President Anna Elisabeth Haselbach of
Austria's Federal Council, Jia reviewed the development of
China-Austria ties, saying bilateral relations have developed fast
and China has become Austria's largest trade partner in Asia.
To mark the 35th anniversary of China-Austria diplomatic ties,
Austria launched a large-scale event celebrating the "China Year"
at the beginning of this year. Chinese President Hu Jintao and his
Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer sent congratulatory letters to
the festival wishing it a success.
"We believe the China Year would be successful and it would
further promote the bilateral ties and friendship," said Jia,
chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
He also expressed his hope that the CPPCC and the Austrian
Federal Council would improve exchanges in a bid to promote
bilateral ties.
Haselbach said Austria and China have no fundamental conflicts
and the two share same or similar opinions on many key
international issues.
She said Austria also values its relations with China and
appreciates China's important role in international affairs.
She said she hoped the activities of the "China Year" would make
Austrian people better understand China and help upgrade the
bilateral ties.
(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2006)
