国内英语新闻:Senior CPC leader pledges to further ties with Estonia

BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) vowed Friday to enhance bilateral ties with Estonia.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made this pledge during his meeting with visiting President of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia Ene Ergma in Beijing.

Li praised the recent growth of relations and cooperation between the two nations, saying China values its ties with Estonia and regards the country as an important partner in the Baltic Sea region.

China would work to increase the mutual political trust with Estonia, encourage the exchange and communications between the two business communities and strengthen the humanitarian exchange between the two peoples, Li said.

Li recalled his visit to Estonia last September and applauded the close contact established between the CPC and the Estonian political parties, expressing his hope that the two sides could step up exchanges and cooperation based on the principles of independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

He also briefed the Estonian guests about China's latest economic and social developments.

Ergma, who was visiting Beijing at the invitation of Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo, said Estonia attaches great importance to its relations with China and is expecting to expand cooperation with China in fields such as biology and information technology.

The Estonian parliamentary delegation arrived in China on Wednesday. Besides Beijing, the delegation is scheduled to visit the southwestern province of Sichuan and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.