The development of relations with China is of "special significance" for the European Union (EU) and Austria, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel said before he embarks on a visit to China on Tuesday.

In an interview with Chinese reporters, Schuessel, who is scheduled to start a seven-day official visit to China on Tuesday, said his country will further advance relations with China after it takes the rotating EU presidency in January 2006.

The chancellor said that during this tour, he will exchange views with Chinese leaders on a number of issues such as the current international situation, economic globalization and development of bilateral ties.

He spoke highly of the achievements accomplished by China in the past decade, saying great changes have taken place in the country compared with the situation 10 years ago, when he paid a visit to China as the minister of economy.

On EU-Chinese ties, Schuessel said the two sides have shared views instead of differences on many international affairs.

EU enterprises take a great interest in cooperation with China, which has witnessed a rapid progress in its economy for the past years, he added.

As for issues like the textile trade and China's full market economy status, Schuessel said that should the two sides handle and resolve those issues in a rational way, they will achieve a win-win result.

He expressed his willingness to hold talks with Chinese entrepreneurs on deepening the economic cooperation on April 23-24 when he attends an annual session of the Boao Forum of Asia in Hainan, China.

Schuessel also highly appraised relations between Austria and China, saying the two countries have been strengthening exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, science and technology in recent years.

The trade volume between the two sides rose to more than 3 billion euros (3.87 billion US dollars) in 2004, he noted.

The chancellor hoped that Austria and China would achieve greater progress in their economic ties as the two countries have huge potential in cooperation in trade and economy.

Asked about the Anti-Secession Law adopted last month by the National People's Congress of China, Schuessel said he realized the Chinese government's position of a peaceful solution to the Taiwan question.

The Austrian government reiterates its adherence to the one- China policy and respects the Chinese people's will to fulfill the cause of national reunification, he concluded.

Source: Xinhua