Chinese, Austrian leaders draw upon warm memories for enhanc

Chinese Premier¹ Wen Jiabao and visiting Austrian President Heinz Fischer shared jokes and old photos as they met Thursday evening for expanded dialogue and cooperation between the two countries.

In a relaxed atmosphere, Wen and Fischer exchanged hugs in front of Chinese and international media members in a well decorated compound in the the Diaoyutai State Guest House.

"This place is more than 200 years old," Wen told Fischer.

"It's really beautiful," the President responded.

Upon entering the meeting room, Wen skipped the diplomatic formality by announcing, in the presence of the media, that he had kept some "proof" of the long-standing friendship with Fischer.

To the total amazement² of the Austrian guests, Wen produced an old photo that he and Fischer took together some 22 years ago when they had beer in Vienna.

"Where did you find it?" Fischer said. "We were 22 years younger then."

"Yes, you were very young at that time," Wen replied in good humor.

The caption³ of the photo reads: Wen Jiabao, then alternate member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and concurrently⁴ director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, meets in Vienna, Austria in 1988 with Heinz Fischer, then president the Parliamentary Group of the Socialist⁵ Party of Austria.

"I think our meeting was in December then?" Fischer suggested.

"It's December 5," Wen came up with an affirmative comment.

"Then, Mr. Premier, I will have some proof for you, too," Fischer said as he fetched for a calendar of 1988.

Fischer turned to the page of December 5 and read: "Receiving Chinese delegation⁶ at 10:00 AM, lunching with Chinese delegation at 12:30 PM and dining with Chinese delegation at 7:00 PM."

"But you forgot to note down one point," Wen dropped in. "We had beer at ten that evening."

"We should never let anybody else know we do after ten," Fischer joked back.

The media persons were amused by the exchange of jokes and shared laughter with the two senior statesmen.

China and Austria have maintained frequent exchange of visits between their leaders. During the current state visit to China, President Fischer has held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral⁷ agreements. He also met with top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo Thursday afternoon.

This was the first visit that Fischer paid to China since he became President.

In another move to share his memory with Premier Wen, Fischer presented Wen with a photo he took in China back in 1977, when the country had just ended the decade-long chaos⁸ of the so-called "Cultural Revolution."

"You are an old friend of the Chinese people," Wen told Fischer. "You are one of the statesmen who win my admiration⁹."

"Since we have been able to exchange views in a candid¹⁰ way since 22 years ago, I hope we contribute greater effort to advancing China-Austria and China-Europe relations," Wen said.

Fischer said the two countries shared broad common interests and views on a lot of issues. He said further advancing bilateral links would serve the fundamental interests of both countries.

Wen said the two countries respected each other and worked to expand dialogues between different civilizations. He said this common ground was of great significance to enhancing mutual¹¹ trust and understanding between China and Europe and promoting international cooperation against various challenges.

Wen said the relations between China and Austria went beyond the bilateral framework and took on a broad prospect¹².

Wen said China would like to work with Austria to elevate dialogues and cooperation in various fields on an equal and mutually beneficial footing, and to push forward bilateral links and China-Europe relations in a sound and steady way, so as to promote harmony and sustainable growth of the world.

Fischer left Beijing for Shanghai to continue his China trip Thursday evening.
 

1 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

2 amazement   

n.惊奇，惊讶

参考例句：

• All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
• He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。

3 caption   

n.说明，字幕，标题；v.加上标题，加上说明

参考例句：

• I didn't understand the drawing until I read the caption.直到我看到这幅画的说明才弄懂其意思。
• There is a caption under the picture.图片下边附有说明。

4 concurrently   

adv.同时地

参考例句：

• He was given two twelve month sentences to run concurrently. 他两罪均判12个月监禁，同期执行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was given two prison sentences, to run concurrently. 他两罪均判监禁，同期执行。 来自辞典例句

5 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

6 delegation   

n.代表团；派遣

参考例句：

• The statement of our delegation was singularly appropriate to the occasion.我们代表团的声明非常适合时宜。
• We shall inform you of the date of the delegation's arrival.我们将把代表团到达的日期通知你。

7 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

8 chaos   

n.混乱，无秩序

参考例句：

• After the failure of electricity supply the city was in chaos.停电后，城市一片混乱。
• The typhoon left chaos behind it.台风后一片混乱。

9 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

10 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

11 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

12 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。