BOAO, Hainan, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese leader here Saturday met with senior foreign officials attending the Boao
Forum for Asia (BFA) annual conference held in this southernmost island province of Hainan.

   During his meeting with Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, said that Sino-Austrian relations have witnessed positive, stable and comprehensive development in recent years.

   The exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries have been frequent while consultation and cooperation has been enhanced between the officials of two countries at all levels, Jia said, noting Sino-Austrian trade maintained stable growth.

   China has become Austria's top trade partner in Asia with a total trade volume of 2.29 billion US dollars in 2004, Jia said.

   The two countries conducted broad and fruitful cooperation in the fields including culture, science and technology, tourism and personnel training, he said.

   "Both countries will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Austrian diplomatic relations next year,"
Jia said. "I believe our friendly ties will be constantly strengthened with the joint efforts from the two sides," Jia said.

   Schuessel hailed his current visit to China, saying his talks and meetings with other Chinese leaders in Beijing were fruitful, saying that Austria will further enhance exchanges and cooperation with China in the energy sector.

   In meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Jia shared Badawi's appreciation of Sino-Malysian relations as they hailed the two countries' cooperation in all fields, saying both sides will make joint efforts to promote the relations.

   Expressing his appreciation of Afghanistan's participation in the BFA annual conference, Jia told Afghanistan's Vice President Abdul Karim Khalili that "China attaches importance to Sino-Afghanistani relations by actively participating the peace progress and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan," Jia said. " We hope that Afghanistan will be back to the track of peace and development as soon as possible."

   Khalili said that Afghanistan and China have shared traditional friendly relations for thousands of years. He appreciated China's support and aid to Afghanistan, saying Afghanistan will further expand and deepen friendly cooperation with China and learn from China's experience of development.

   When meeting with Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Jia said that Sino-Singaporean relations maintained smooth growth. The two countries also had sound coordination in the Indian tsunami relief work, Jia said. "We will, along with Singapore, promote bilateral relations for new progress on the basis of mutual-respect and mutual-benefits."  

   More than 1,200 senior politicians, scholars and business people from about 40 countries and regions are gathering in Bo'ao for the annual conference, the theme of which was "Asia searching for win-win: new role of Asia".  Enditem