国内英语新闻:Chinese vice president visits industry hub in Sweden

A replica of the 18th century wooden merchant ship Gotheborg, which reached the southern Chinese city of Canton several times in the late 1730s and early 1740s, is an important symbol for the friendly exchanges between China and Sweden, said Xi.

The 2006 return of the reconstructed Gotheborg to Canton and Shanghai has enhanced the friendship between the Chinese and Swedish peoples and thus helped a lot in promoting the growth of the bilateral relationship, Xi said.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L Front) raises the sail with Lars Backstrom, governor of Vastra Gotaland, aboard the replica of the 18th century Swedish merchant ship "Gotheborg" in Goteborg, Sweden, March 28, 2010.

The relations between the two countries are showing a strong momentum of development with cooperation in all fields deepening and personnel exchanges becoming closer, he said. Vastra Gotaland County as Sweden's industry hub and Gothenburg as a famous industrious and commercial city in North Europe enjoy many unique advantages in cooperation with China, the Chinese vice president said.

He said that the two sides should make full use of the favorable conditions to lift the bilateral relationship to a higher level.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (C) visits the SKF Group in Goteborg, Sweden, March 28, 2010.

Warmly welcoming Xi on behalf of the people of Vastra Gotaland County, Backstrom said Gothenburg is a city with a long and close relationship with China.

Since Xi's last visit to Gothenburg 31 years ago, relations between Sweden and China have been developing rapidly and China's development and the Beijing Olympic Games are so impressing, Backstrom said. Vastra Gotaland County hopes to strengthen its ties with China in economic cooperation, trade, culture, sport and the combat against the global climate change, he said.

On Sunday morning, Xi also visited the SKF company and he spoke highly of the Swedish company's business activities in China.