Bosnian Prime Minister Nikola Spiric (1st R) meets with Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang (1st L) in Sarajevo, on Sept. 12, 2008. (Xinhua/Yang Ke) Photo Gallery>>>

    SARAJEVO, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- China and Bosnia pledged on Friday to strengthen cooperation between each other and push their relations to a higher level.

    "China cherishes the traditional friendship with Bosnia, hopes to broaden political dialogues at different levels and deepen the exchange and cooperation in such fields as trade and lift the bilateral relations between the two countries to a higher level," visiting Chinese vice Premier Zhang Dejiang said.

    Zhang made the comments in his meeting with rotating Chairman Haris Silajdzic of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nebojsa Radmanovic, another member of the group made of three members.

    "China regards Bosnia as a trust-worthy friend and partner, and we greatly appreciate Bosnia's stance on one-China policy and its support for China's great cause of peaceful unification with Taiwan," Zhang said.

    Silajdzic congratulated China on successfully staging the 29th Beijing Olympic Games. He said that the opening ceremony of the games displayed Chinese long history and its splendid culture and it also showed China's desire for a harmonious world.

Bosnian Prime Minister Nikola Spiric (R) and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang attend a news conference in Sarajevo, on Sept. 12, 2008. Nikola Spiric met with Zhang Dejiang on Friday. (Xinhua/Yang Ke) Photo Gallery>>>

    Silajdzic said Bosnia and China enjoy a good tradition of mutual respect and mutual support. The two countries have a good cooperation in international and regional affairs.

    "Bosnia and China have a sound base for furthering good bilateral relations. Bosnia hopes to strengthen the ties in trade and economy between the two, and push the friendly cooperation to a new level," Silajdzic said.

    Zhang arrived here on the second leg of his three-nation European tour which has already taken him to Germany, where he attended the third meeting of the China-Europe Forum in Hamburg. Zhang will also visit Macedonia.