Chinese Vice-Premier Holds Talks With Swedish Deputy Prime Minister

Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo Monday voiced satisfaction over the sound development of Sino-Swedish relations.

During talks with Swedish deputy Prime Minister Lena Hjelm- Wallen, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a seven-day visit, Wu recalled the progress of bilateral ties since May 1950, when Sweden took the lead among western countries to forge diplomatic ties with China, noting relations have been progressing smoothly and steadily.

Wu noted that in the political arena, high-level contacts are increasing and mutual understanding is deepening. Economic and trade cooperation has also expanded. Cooperation in the scientific, technological, education, and other sectors has expanded and contacts between government agencies and local cities have also increased.

He pointed out that a long-term and stable friendship between the two countries is in the fundamental interest of the two peoples. China is willing to work together with Sweden to further promote and develop bilateral ties, he added.

Hjelm-Wallen said she is glad to visit China at a time when both sides are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties. Relations between the two nations have developed smoothly in the past 50 years, she said, expressing the hope for further progress in the future.

The Swedish government highly values its relations with China, and is keen to expand cooperation with China in various fields, especially in the economic and trade sector, since China is an important trade partner of Sweden.

Negotiations between the European Union and China on the latter 's accession to the World Trade Organization is still ongoing, and Sweden upholds free trade and supports China's early entry into the WTO.

She said Sweden will take its position as rotating president of the EU early next year, and it will actively work to promote EU's relations with China.

Wu voiced appreciation over Sweden's role in promoting China-EU relations, and expressed the hope that Sweden would make use of its position to promote better ties.

After the talks, Wu and Hjelm-Wallen attended a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries on the cooperation of information technology, and also met with Swedish businesspeople.



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