Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, meets with Simon Illmer, president of the parliament of Salzburg Province of Austria, in Salzburg May 17, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Photo Gallery>>>

    SALZBURG, Austria, May 17 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo said here Sunday that exchanges between local regions of China and Austria constitute an important part of bilateral relations.

    Wu made the remarks when meeting with Simon Illmer, president of the parliament of the Salzburg Province of Austria.

    Wu, who is the first chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) to visit Austria since 1994, arrived in Salzburg from Vienna on Sunday morning, continuing his official goodwill visit to the country.

    Wu said Salzburg has attracted more and more Chinese tourists with its many cultural relics and beautiful natural scenes. He said China treasures its friendly cooperation with Salzburg, hoping that both sides should create a new mode for and further substantiate their cooperation.

    Noting China is an important trade partner of Salzburg, Illmer said he believed Wu's visit will promote cooperation in such fields as investment, environmental protection and tourism.

    More than 50 Salzburg companies have invested in China, notably among them is Porsche AG. Salzburg has set up a Chinese Affair Office while forging friendly relations with Hainan Province, Shanghai City and Heilongjiang Province in China.

    Wu said Salzburg plays an important and unique role in China-Austria relations.

    Before flying to Salzburg, Wu met with Harald Reisenberger, president of the Austrian Federal Council, in Vienna on Saturday. During the meeting, Wu said that both sides should treasure the current momentum of sound development in bilateral links.

    Reisenberger said the strong growth of the Chinese economy has brought vigor and confidence to the international community including Austria. He expressed the wish to further enhance friendly relations with China by deepening mutually beneficial cooperation and exchanges in such areas as trade, investment, high and new technology, culture, arts, science and education.

    Reisenberger said members of parliament from all parts of Austria wish to strengthen cooperation with China's National People's Congress (NPC) to enhance people-to-people friendship, promote exchanges between local authorities and contribute to the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

    Wu said parliamentary exchanges form an important part of China-Austria relations. He said the NPC and Austrian parliament have maintained close exchange and cooperation, helped enhance the friendly relations between both sides. He hopes that the two sides should carry on this tradition by pushing forward exchanges between political parties, local governments and peoples of the two countries. The two sides should promote practical cooperation in all fields so as to add new impetus to bilateral relations.

    Wu also reiterated China's principled stance on Tibet-related issues, stressing that this is the political basis to advance China-Austria relations. He hopes that Austria continues to support China on issues concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

    Reisenberger reaffirmed that Austria will firmly adhere to the one-China policy.

    During his stay in Vienna, Wu also visited the Vienna high-tech zone.

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