Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, meets with Governor of Salzburg Province Gabi Burgstaller in Salzburg of Austria May 18, 2009. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) Photo Gallery>>>

    SALZBURG, Austria, May 18 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo on Monday concluded his official goodwill visit to Austria and left here for Italy, the final leg of his three-nation Europe tour.

    Wu is the first chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) to visit Austria in the past 15 years.

    Before leaving Austria, Wu said his visit has achieved the aim of enhancing political trust, promoting cooperation, advancing inter-parliamentary exchanges and pushing forward bilateral relations.

    During his visit, Wu met with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Josef Proll, National Council President Barbara Prammer and Federal Council President Harald Reisenberger.

    During the meetings, the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and other regional and international issues of common concern.

    Both sides agreed that facing the challenge of the worsening global financial storm, it is of even greater significance to strengthen China-Austria cooperation.

    They expressed the willingness to further expand trade, investment and transfer of advanced technologies, as well as exchanges in such areas as culture, arts, science, technology and education.

    Wu expressed great interest in upgrading high-tech cooperation between the two countries.

    He visited the Vienna High-tech Zone on Saturday and inspected an energy efficient office building and a wind tunnel, which is believed to be the world's largest for testing locomotives and automobiles. The wind tunnel has undertaken tests and data gathering for locomotives used in city subway system in Shanghai.

    At the meetings, Austrian government and parliament leaders reaffirmed the one-China policy and respect for China's core interests on Tibet-related issues, which Wu called a basic element of political relations between the two countries.

    Both sides expressed their wish to step up exchanges between the parliaments. Wu invited more Austrian parliamentary members, especially young members to visit China.

    With China witnessing an economic slowdown and Austria on the edge of recession, Wu and the Austrian parliamentary leaders agreed that legislators of both sides should coordinate their stance even more closely on such issues as opposing protectionism and facilitating the flow of people between the two countries.

    Besides Vienna, Wu also visited Salzburg and met with heads of the local government and parliament.

    Wu arrived in Vienna on Friday after paying an official goodwill visit to Russia. 

Special Report: Top Legislator Wu Visits 3 European Nations