Chinese top lawmaker's visit helps advance cooperation with Europe

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:30 May 25 2009]
• Comments

Wu said the high level of China-Russia partnership is fully reflected in such areas as frequent contact between top leaders of the two countries, the staging of "Russian Language Year" in China, the signing of an oil cooperation agreement between the two governments and the exchanges between the NPC and Russian parliament.

Medvedev said Wu's visit to Russia reflects the momentum of fast growth in bilateral links. Under the current environment of international financial crisis, coordination between the parliament of the two countries will be conducive to advancing bilateral cooperation.

In Austria, Wu met with Austrian President Heinz Fischer and Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Josef Proll.

During the meetings, Wu emphasized that China places great importance on developing relations with Austria. He said China is ready to expand friendly contact between the governments, parliaments and political parties of the two countries on a basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits.

Wu said the two countries should enhance mutual understanding and trust so as to deepen cooperation in various fields and carry out closer coordination and communication on international affairs.

Fischer appreciates the responsible stance and measure that China has taken in addressing international financial crisis. He said the financial crisis has caused great impact on every country in the world and required joint effort of all countries in addressing it.

On his tour to Italy, Wu met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Secondly, Wu said the two countries should explore new areas of cooperation. Noting that China is working on economic restructuring and upgrading industries, Wu said the two sides share broad prospect in the development and utilization of new energy.

Thirdly, Wu said the two sides should cooperate closely on staging the World Expo. Shanghai and Milan will respectively host the World Expo in 2010 and 2015. Wu expressed the belief that cooperation on this issue will become a new bright spot of China-Italy cooperation.

 PUSHING FORWARD PRACTICAL COOPERATION

Wu's visit also helped strengthen practical cooperation in all fields between China and the three nations.

During his visit to Italy, Wu met with Chinese entrepreneurs doing business in Europe. Wu said overseas Chinese companies should explore new ways to help China restructure its economy and upgrade its industries.

Wu, as China's top legislator, made the remarks as he met here with Chinese entrepreneurs who invest and do business in Italy and Europe.

Wu encourages the Chinese companies to expand their overseas market and explore new areas and channels of cooperation in other countries so as to make new contributions to China's cooperation with Italy and Europe.

Against the background of international financial crisis, Chinese companies should enhance research and development capabilities and establish overseas marketing network through cooperation with foreign companies, Wu said.

He hopes that Chinese companies should seized the opportunity of reshuffle of global industry to upgrade management and technology. He said Chinese companies should attach importance to fostering management talents with international experience.

During the visit, Wu demonstrated great interest in upgrading high-tech cooperation between China and the European countries. He visited Vienna High-tech Zone on Saturday, inspecting an energy saving 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.

 Wu also visited in Rome a research and development center under the Italian National Agency for New Technology, Energy and the Environment (ENEA) He inspected the high-temperature sole heat system for generating electricity at the R&D center.

Wu said it is a global trend in the energy sector to develop new energy and renewable energy in a broad prospect of growth. He said the Chinese government places great importance on and actively promotes development and application of all kinds of renewable energy, including solar energy. He expressed the wish that research institutes and companies of the two countries should increase cooperation and investment in this respect so as to jointly exploit the renewable energy market.

During the visit, both Wu and leaders of the three nations agreed that under the circumstances of international financial crisis, strengthening practical cooperation will not only help the countries to overcome current difficulties, but also help promote the recovery of world economy.