1st Ld-Writethru: Speakers from Nordic, Baltic countries to jointly visit China

BEIJING, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang, various Speakers from Nordic and Baltic countries will visit China from Jan. 7 to 13, said a press release of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Friday.

The main delegates include Finland's Speaker of Parliament Maria Lohela, Norway's Speaker of Parliament Olemic Thommessen, Iceland's Speaker of Parliament Steingrimur J. Sigfusson, Estonia's Speaker of Parliament Eiki Nestor, Latvia's Speaker of Parliament Inara Murniece, Lithuania's Speaker of Parliament Viktoras Pranckietis, and Sweden's Deputy Speaker of Parliament Eva Thalen Finne, said the press release.

Zhang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, will hold talks with them, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang Friday at a daily press briefing.

"Nordic and Baltic countries, with an established mechanism of joint visits to other countries, showed their willingness to visit China," Geng said.

It is the first time for the Speakers from Nordic and Baltic countries to jointly visit China, Geng said.

"China attaches great importance to the ties with Nordic and Baltic countries," Geng said, noting that China is willing to make joint efforts with them to promote bilateral ties, regional cooperation and China-Europe relations. Enditem