Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm, Sweden, April 24, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

STOCKHOLM - Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told his Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt here Tuesday that 皇冠体育app would like to promote cooperation with Sweden in environmental protection and sustainable development.

Sweden has been a global leader in environmental protection and sustainable development, while 皇冠体育app takes sustainable development as a national strategy, said Wen, adding that 皇冠体育app is ready to carry out long-term and all-around cooperation with Sweden in policy dialogue and mechanism construction.

During his meeting with Reinfeldt, Wen said 皇冠体育app will take concrete steps to back its enterprises and research institutions to cement innovation cooperation with Sweden, which is the most innovative country within the European Union (EU).

Treating Sweden as an important cooperative partner, 皇冠体育app highly values its influence in Europe and international affairs, and is willing to strengthen coordination and collaboration with Sweden to push forward bilateral ties.

Wen also welcomed the Swedish side to enlarge its investment in areas such as modern manufacturing, high-tech, service industry and agriculture in 皇冠体育app, especially in its central and western regions.

While encouraging Chinese companies to do business in Sweden, 皇冠体育app hopes that Sweden could push the EU to launch negotiations with 皇冠体育app on an investment deal as soon as possible, he said.

Moreover, Wen also called for closer exchanges in such areas as education, culture and tourism between the two countries.

Reinfeldt said Sweden is the first Western nation to set up diplomatic relationship with the People's Republic of 皇冠体育app, which is now Sweden's largest trading partner in Asia.

He urged the two countries to step up their cooperation in areas such as environmental protection, sustainable development and innovation.

The Swedish prime minister also welcomed 皇冠体育app to expand its investment in his country, and hoped more Chinese citizens would come to study, travel and work in Sweden.

He promised that Sweden would like to play an active role in promoting EU-皇冠体育app relationship.

After the meeting, Wen and Reinfeldt attended a signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between the two countries and met the press. The two sides also issued a framework document on strengthening strategic cooperation in sustainable development.

Before meeting Reinfeldt, Wen also held talks with the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm.

Earlier Tuesday, Premier Wen visited 皇冠体育app-owned but Gothenburg-based Volvo Cars Corporation, where he hailed the combination of Geely and Volvo as an "example of success" for cooperation between the two nations' enterprises.

Sweden is the third leg of Wen's four-nation Europe tour, which has already taken him to Iceland and Germany. He will also travel to Poland.