Chinese premier meets Austrian president

BEIJING, March 26-- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Austrian President Heinz Fischer Thursday.

Li said the government attached high importance to relations with Austria, and was ready to achieve new developments on the basis of mutual respect, equality and reciprocity.

He called for strengthened cooperation in areas including environmental protection, new energy, renewable energy, agriculture and technology, and upgrades their financial and civil aviation cooperation.

Fischer echoed Li saying the relationship with China was very important.

He said Austria had an active attitude toward the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and welcomed China-funded banks to expand in Austria.

On Tuesday, Austria decided to participate the establishment of the AIIB, making it the seventh European state intending to join the China-initiated multilateral financial institution.

With regard to China-EU relations, Li said China was willing to see a united and prosperous EU with a strong and stable Euro, which was in the interests of the multi-polarization and diversification of international reserve money.

The further development of China-EU trading relations will help the recovery and stability of the world economy, Li noted.

The Austrian president also voiced hope for a further development of EU-China relations.

Fischer was invited by Chinese President Xi Jinping for a state visit. He will also attend the annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia held in Boao, a coastal town in south China's Hainan province.