STOCKHOLM, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Swedish first deputy parliament speaker Jan Bjorkman met a visiting top official of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Thursday and both sides voiced their willingness to enhance bilateral relations.

Li Zhaozhuo, vice chairman of the CPPCC national committee, told Bjorkman that Sweden was the first western country to establish diplomatic relations with China.

In June this year, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf attended a ceremony in Goteborg, Sweden, for the return of a replica of the ship Gotheborg from China, as part of the first visit to Sweden by a Chinese head of state.

Li said the exchange and cooperation between China and Sweden in political, economic and cultural fields have increased gradually, and China is willing to make continued efforts to enhance political mutual trust and expand economic and trade cooperation with Sweden in a bid to develop bilateral ties.

Li added that the CPPCC national committee attaches great importance to friendly exchange with the Swedish parliament and expressed hope that the two sides reinforce that exchange to contribute to the advancement of Sino-Swedish relations.

Bjorkman said Sweden considers enhancing cooperation with China in economy and trade, politics and culture as very important. The Swedish parliament is willing to carry out friendly exchange with the CPPCC national committee at various levels to boost the continued progress of bilateral ties, he added.

At the invitation of the Swedish parliament, the delegation of the CPPCC national committee began its four-day visit to Sweden Thursday.