Estonia will try its best to further the relations and cooperation with China with a focus on strengthening economic links and expanding cultural exchange, said Toomas Savi, Estonia's parliament speaker.
Thanks to the initiatives taken by both sides, the relations between Estonia and China have grown rapidly since the independence of the Baltic republic in 1991, Savi told Xinhua in an interview on the eve of the official visit by Li Peng, chairman of the National Standing Committee of China's National People's Conference.
The development of bilateral relations is marked by the frequent exchange of visits at various levels and from the different circles of the two countries, he said.
The future cooperation between the two countries should focus on economic and cultural exchanges and one of the promising areas is transport, the speaker said.
Chinese goods can be shipped to the European market via Estonia and cooperation is already underway between the railway authorities of the two countries, Savi said, adding that Estonia is also interested in enhancing cooperation with China in marine and air transport.
The two countries signed an aviation agreement in 1999.
Savi also thanked China for the continued support for Estonia's sovereignty and understanding of Estonia's political choice.
(People’s Daily 09/07/2000)
