国内英语新闻:Austrian President visits Shanghai, expresses confidence in success of World Expo

SHANGHAI, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Austrian President Heinz Fischer here on Friday expressed his confidence in the success of the Shanghai World Expo and expectation for further economic and trade cooperation between his country and China.

The Expo would have profound influences on the social, economic and culture development of the host city Shanghai, Fischer said in a meeting with Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng.

Austria hosted the 1873 World Expo.

Fischer said Austria would actively participate in the Expo and Austrian Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann was expected to attend the opening ceremony.

Despite the financial crisis, China was the only market of Austria that saw an increase in export volume in 2009, said Fischer.

He called for further cooperation in such areas as economy, culture, science and sports.

Austria's statistics showed that the trade volume of its export to China recorded a year-on-year increase of 5 percent in 2009, while China's customs said China-Austria trade hit 4.33 billion U.S. dollars from January to November last year.

China has now become Austria's largest trading partner in Asia, and second largest outside the Europe and the fourth largest exporters to Austria in the world.

Fischer arrived in Shanghai Thursday, or the 100-day countdown to the opening of the Expo. He concluded his China visit and left for Austria on Friday afternoon.