Wu also met on Saturday with Barbara Prammer, president of the Austrian National Council, or the lower chamber of the parliament.

During his meeting with Prammer, Wu said Austria is an important cooperative partner of China in Europe. Prammer said Wu' s visit reflects the closeness of relations between the two countries.

Reviewing the regular contact between the governments, parliaments, political parties and local governments of the two countries, Wu said greater political trust, rapidly growing trade and increasing cultural exchanges helped enhance popular mandate to the expansion of bilateral relations.

Prammer said as bilateral links and cooperation in various fields grow smoothly, more and more Austrian people are now willing to learn about China. She said the social basis and popular mandate for expanding Austria-China relations are growing, which will cast a bright future for bilateral cooperation.

Wu expressed appreciation that the new government and newly- elected parliament of Austria have given priority to developing relations with China. In order to lift bilateral links to a new level, Wu suggested that the two sides should maintain the current momentum of high-level contact and further deepen political trust.

Wu said the parliaments of the two countries should strengthen friendly relations by carrying out exchanges at all levels and in all forms. He welcomes more and more Austrian parliamentarians to visit China.

The top Chinese lawmaker suggested that the two countries should further expand trade, investment and economic cooperation by utilizing their specific advantages. Under the circumstances of the spreading world financial crisis, it is of greater significance to strengthen such cooperation, he said.

China welcomes Austrian companies to explore business opportunities in the country and participate in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, said Wu.

He also suggested that the two sides should enhance cooperation in such areas as culture, tourism, local governance and education.

He said the two countries should also have even closer cooperation on international affairs. They should join hands to oppose any forms of trade protectionism and push for the establishment of a fair, just, inclusive and orderly financial system in the world.

Wu said both countries can make contribution to maintaining stability of the international financial market and promoting recovery of the world economy.

In response, Prammer said Austria places its relations with China on an important position in its foreign policy. She said Austria is ready to expand the flow of people traveling between the two countries so as to enhance mutual understanding and trust. She also expressed the willingness to further deepen bilateral links in such areas as local contact and cultural exchanges.

She said the parliament of Austria will have closer cooperation with the NPC to promote the development of Austria-China relations.

Wu is in Vienna for an official goodwill visit. He is the first NPC chairman to visit the country in 15 years.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2009)