Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday that China is willing to enhance cooperation with Latvia on trade and investment to bring about tangible benefits to the two countries.

Wen made the remarks while meeting Latvian President Valdis Zatlers, who is in northwestern China's port city Dalian to attend the the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2009, also known as the Summer Davos.

Wen is to address the opening ceremony of the meeting, to be hosted by the Davos-based World Economic Forum, later Thursday.

"Your presence shows that you attach importance to the forum, and also demonstrates your goodwill and confidence towards China," said Wen.

The three-day forum has attracted some 1,400 participants from 86 countries and regions to discuss topics about the theme of "Relaunching Growth" amid global economic downturn.

The relationship between China and Latvia has seen sound development in recent years. Zatlers attended the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics last year.

China will work with Latvia to encourage contacts of enterprises and mutual investment and enhance cooperation in the field of transportation to achieve win-win results, said Wen.

Zatlers said the two countries share common views on many major international issues, hoping the two sides could cooperate in such areas as trade and culture.

Latvia will make its contribution to the development of Europe-China relations, said Zatlers.

According to China's official statistics, trade volume between the two countries rose steadily, reaching 865 million U.S. dollars in 2008, a jump of 22.4 percent on year.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2009)