LJUBLJANA, Nov. 20 -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang met Slovenian Prime Minister Miro Cerar and other senior officials here on Thursday to strengthen bilateral ties.

In his meeting with Cerar, Wang said China and Slovenia have great potential for economic cooperation as their economies are quite complementary.

China is willing to make joint efforts with Slovenia to expand two-way trade and investment and broaden cooperation in the fields of auto manufacturing, energy, transportation, environmental protection and finance, Wang said.

China also hopes that Slovenia continue to play a constructive role in further promoting the healthy and stable relations between China and the European Union, Wang added.

In talks with Slovenia's Parliament Speaker Milan Brglez, Wang noted that China and Slovenia have a profound traditional friendship with both sides respecting each other's choice of development path and core interests.

The growing exchanges in such fields as economy, trade and culture have set an example for countries with different conditions to achieve a win-win relationship based on mutual respect and benefit, he said. The close ties between the two countries' legislatures will inject vigor into the development of bilateral relations.

Brglez said that the National Assembly of Slovenia hopes to strengthen relations with its Chinese counterpart, and continue to play an active role in promoting Slovenia-China ties.

In talks with Slovenian Agriculture Minister Dejan Zidan and Foreign Minister Karl Erjavec, Wang said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, bilateral cooperation of mutual benefit in all fields has been fruitful.

The Chinese vice premier proposed that both sides increase investment in key areas of cooperation.

He said that China will encourage its enterprises to actively participate in Slovenia's infrastructure construction and cooperate with Slovenian companies to invest in a third country.

Wang also emphasized that the two countries should cultivate new sectors for cooperation based on each other's characteristics, calling for enhancement of cooperation in agriculture and forestry.

The vice premier also hoped that both sides could enhance people-to-people exchanges, saying China is willing to offer Slovenia necessary help to promote Chinese education and encourage more frequent exchanges of students between the two countries.

For their parts, the two Slovenian ministers voiced the hope of expanding agricultural trade with China and enhancing cooperation in forestry, port construction and tourism.

Slovenia supports China to run Confucius Institute and Confucius Class in the eastern European country, they said.