Finnish President Tarja Halonen met with visiting senior Chinese Communist Party official Wang Gang in Helsinki on Monday and the two pledged efforts to expand bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

During their meeting, Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, conveyed to Halonen regards from Chinese President Hu Jintao.

China and Finland have treated each other as a trustworthy friend and good partner since they established diplomatic ties more than half a century ago and their relationship has set a good example for countries with different ideologies and social systems and at different levels of development to get along with each other on an equal footing, said Wang, who is also vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Wang also said China-Finland ties have showed a good momentum of development featuring frequent high-level exchanges of visits, enhanced political mutual trust and increased exchanges in various fields.

Stressing that China has always attached great importance to ties with Finland, Wang said China is willing to work with Finland to further expand cooperation that will bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries.

President Halonen expressed the hope that bilateral cooperation would be expanded in such fields as economy and trade, environmental protection and justice.

Halonen also said he felt honored to attend the closing ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Wang arrived in Helsinki Monday as the head of a delegation of the CPPCC National Committee for a visit to Finland at the invitation of the Finnish parliament.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2008)