Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu held talks with Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis in Riga on Monday to discuss bilateral ties.

Hui said that the China-Latvia relations are on a healthy track. China is ready to push forward bilateral ties in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. He said Latvia is an important partner of China in the Baltic region.

Dombrovskis said bilateral exchanges in political and economic fields as well as people-to-people contacts have been on the increase since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Latvia attaches great importance to relations with China, will stick to the one-China policy and will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China, he said.

Both sides believed that they should explore new areas and new models of cooperation in face of the global financial crisis. The two countries should expand mutual investment and economic and trade cooperation. The two sides also agreed to enhance cooperation in transportation, agriculture and forestry, medicine, fishery and dairy products.

China agreed to encourage imports from Latvia, which welcomed the visit of a Chinese trade and investment promotion delegation alongside with Hui. The two governments pledged to create favorable conditions for cooperation between enterprises. Latvia agreed to participate in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.

On the relations between China and the European Union (EU), Hui said the two sides should join hands in face of challenges and seek common development in today's challenging international situation.

China is ready to work with the EU on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit to increase mutual trust, promote cooperation, and push the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, said Hui.

Dombrovskis pledged that his country will play a positive role in promoting the China-EU relations.

After the talks, Hui and Dombrovskis attended a ceremony for the signing of several cooperation agreements, covering such areas as agriculture cooperation and the promotion of trade and investment.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2009)