Presidents of China and Austria on Wednesday witnessed the signing of a package of deals and vowed to uplift bilateral relationship.

"China would like to work with Austria to bring relationship to a new high," Chinese President Hu Jintao told visiting Austrian President Heinz Fischer.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) and Austrian President Heinz Fischer inspect the guard of honour in Beijing, China, Jan. 20, 2010. Fischer arrived here Tuesday noon for a four-day state visit to China. [Li Tao/Xinhua]

In their hour-long talks at the Great Hall of the People, Hu reviewed the development of bilateral relations since China and Austria forged diplomatic relations in 1971.

"China and Austria witnessed deepening and growing ties," Hu said, citing expanded cooperation in economy, trade, investment, science and technology and culture.

Fischer echoed Hu's views, saying China had become an important cooperation partner of Austria.

Fischer said Austria was satisfied with ties with China, as bilateral trade increased steadily last year despite the international financial crisis.

China-Austria trade hit 4.33 billion U.S. dollars from January to November in 2009, according to China's Customs.

This was Fischer's first state visit to China since he took office in July 2004.

Fischer's entourage included more than 60 officials in health, defense, sports, business, commerce, banking, among others, and around 120 business executives.

Fischer expressed condolences over the death of eight Chinese peacekeeping police officers in a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Haiti last week. Their bodies were returned to Beijing Tuesday.

Hu called the eight peacekeepers "excellent children of Chinese nation and loyal guards of world peace," and said Chinese people felt grieved about their suffering.

Though China and Haiti have not established diplomatic relations, China dispatched an international rescue team to the Caribbean nation and offered emergency reliefs and funds, Hu said.