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)