Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), arrived in Oslo Wednesday to start the final leg of his four-nation tour.

In a written statement distributed upon his arrival, Wu said: "I hope the visit will further strengthen understanding and trust and promote our exchanges and cooperation in all fields."

Wu will meet Joergen Kosmo, president of the Norwegian parliament, Foreign Minister Jan Petersen, King Harald V and Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik. He is also scheduled to give a speech at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs.

Before leaving for Oslo, Wu met separately with the Danish Queen Margrethe II and Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Copenhagen.

On Tuesday, Wu told Christian Mejdahl, the Danish Parliament speaker, that the two countries should resort to dialogue and enhanced communication to handle their differences.

According to an NPC Standing Committee spokesman, Wu said it was natural that China and Denmark, varying in their history, culture, social systems and ideologies, should differ on certain issues.

It is important that they enhance understanding in dialogue and handle their differences with care, said Wu.

Since 1998, Denmark -- together with other European Union (EU) members -- has made it clear that it would give up confronting China over human rights disputes and turn to dialogue.

Parliamentary exchanges obviously play a part in tackling such differences. Wu promised that the NPC would further promote contacts across all fields with Denmark.

The Chinese spokesman quoted Mejdahl as acknowledging the differences between Denmark and China.

Denmark was one of the first Western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China in 1950.

Reaffirming China's commitment to develop ties with Denmark, Wu said the two countries do not have fundamental conflicts and share a common interest in maintaining peace and development in the world.

Wu appreciated Denmark's adherence to the one-China policy, saying it is the political basis for improving links.

A better Sino-Danish relationship is conducive to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU, Wu added.

According to the spokesman, Mejdahl said Denmark follows China's economic development closely and attaches great importance to building better ties with China.

Wu, replying by noting the complementary nature of the two economies, predicted a broad prospective for cooperation.

Trade between China and Denmark has increased from nearly US$300 million in 1992 to about US$2.5 billion last year.

While China mainly exports garments, plastic products, shoes, medicine, toys and suitcases, Denmark provides China with such items as food processing equipment, chemical fertilizer and power-generating facilities.

(China Daily June 3, 2004)