Top Chinese adviser Jia Qinglin arrived here on Saturday, beginning his official goodwill visit to Estonia, the third leg of his four-nation Europe tour.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said upon his arrival that despite the long distance between China and Estonia, the two peoples have forged mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations 15 years ago, China and Estonia have enjoyed productive cooperation in the political, economic, trade, cultural, and educational fields, Jia said in a written statement released at the Tallinn airport.

Both sides have also supported and worked closely with each other in the United Nations and other international organizations, he added.

"We share the same or similar views on many major international issues. We are both committed to maintaining peace and stability and promoting common prosperity and development of mankind. We are glad about the progress of China-Estonia mutually-beneficial cooperation," he said.

"I am visiting Estonia to enhance mutual understanding and trust, consolidate friendship and deepen cooperation. I am looking forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with Estonian leaders on growing bilateral ties and other issues of mutual interest," said the leader of the CPPCC, China's top advisory body.

Estonia is the third leg of Jia's Europe tour from Oct. 22 to Nov. 3, which has taken him to Britain and Lithuania, and will also take him to Ukraine.

Source: Xinhua