国内英语新闻:Swedish parliament speaker meets high-ranking CPC official

STOCKHOLM, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Swedish Parliament Speaker Per Westerberg on Sunday said that with the rapid economic development, China has played an increasingly important role in international and regional issues over the past years.

"Sweden is willing to further broaden and deepen cooperation with China in bio-pharmaceutical, energy and environmental protection fields, strengthen governmental, parliamentary and people's exchange between the two countries and promote sustainable development of bilateral relations," Westerberg said in a meeting with Liu Qi, a Chinese party official.

Liu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, arrived in Stockholm on Friday for a three-day visit.

Swedish Parliament Speaker Per Westerberg (L) meets with Liu Qi (R), a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chief of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, in Trosa, Sweden, Sept. 12, 2010.

Over the past 60 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, bilateral exchange and cooperation in trade, education and tourism have been increasing and benefited both sides, Westerberg said.

During the meeting, Liu said that with the frequent bilateral visits of high-level leaders, political trust in both sides have been strengthened.

"Bilateral cooperation in traditional fields have been fruitful while the cooperation in energy-saving, environmental protection and ecological city construction has been expanding," Liu said.

He said China is willing to strengthen exchange and communication with Sweden and take the 60th anniversary as an opportunity to further tap the potential of cooperation and promote further development of bilateral relations.

Liu also met Carl Bildt, Swedish minister of foreign affairs, and attended a signing ceremony between Beijing Economic and Information Committee and Ericsson for strategic cooperation.

Liu came from Oslo before he arrived in Stockholm. He will continue to visit Iceland, the Netherlands and Switzerland after his tour in Sweden.