NPC Chairman Meets Austrian Visitors

NPC Chairman Meets Austrian Visitors

---

Chairman Li Peng of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) met with Werner Fasslabend, third president of the Austrian National Council and former Austrian defense minister, and his party on April 26.

Li said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Austria and during the past three decades, bilateral ties have witnessed considerable progress, Li said, citing the frequent high-level exchange of visits and increasing cooperation in all fields.

Such a relationship is not only in the fundamental interests of both countries, but also conducive to the world peace, stability and development, he said.

He reaffirmed China's pursuit of the independent foreign policy of peace, saying China has always stuck to its principle and upheld justice in international affairs. China advocates world multi-polarism and holds that all countries, big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, should be equal members of the world community, he said, stressing China is against both hegemony and power politics.

China will also actively adapt itself to the economic globalization trend and has been making efforts for its WTO entry, he said.

Meanwhile, China has maintained good relations with all EU members, Li said, expressing the hope such a relationship would be kept and further consolidated in the future. He also voiced the hope that the EU, as an important organization in the international arena, would continue to play an active role in world affairs.

He spoke highly of inter-parliamentary contacts, saying the NPC is willing to further increase its cooperation with the Austrian parliament in order to promote the overall bilateral ties.

Fasslabend said during the current visit, the delegation members have seen with their own eyes the rapid changes taking place in China. He expressed admiration for China's economic achievements, saying he was also proud to note that the Austrian business circle has been able to participate in China's economic construction.

He reiterated that Austria highly emphasizes its relations with China and hopes that the already existing good cooperative ties between the two countries would be reinforced in the new century.