Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with Estonian Prime Minister Juhan Parts and British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott on the sidelines of the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting summit, China Radio International reported Saturday.

During his meeting with Parts, Wen said China hopes that Estonia, a new member of the European Union (EU), would play a positive role in pushing forward Sino-EU ties. He said China welcomes Estonian enterprises to do business in China and that China will take measures to expand import from Estonia.

Parts said that Estonia attaches importance to its relations with China, and hopes to further cooperation in economy and trade, education, telecommunication, and information technology.

During his meeting with the British Deputy Prime Minister, Wen said China is ready to work with Britain to enhance the substantial cooperation in such areas as trade and investment, finance, energy resources, and education.

Prescott, for his part, said the British government will make more efforts to advance the all-round and strategic partnership with China.

(CRI October 9, 2004)