I. A Brief Review of Sino-Latvian Political Relations

Other visits to China by Latvian leaders include Picks, Vice Chairman of the Latvian Parliament (June 2000 and May 2002).

The Sino-Latvian Economic and Trade Joint Committee has already held three regular conferences.

II. Political Relations and Important Mutual Exchanges

On October 1 2002, Latvian President Vaira Vike Freiberga, Prime Minister Andris Berzins, Foreign Minister Yin Beljinsh separately extended letters to Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu Rongji, and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan congratulating on China's National Day. On 16, the Chinese leaders separately sent telegrams to their Latvian counterparts to express thanks.

On November 7 2002, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Li Peng sent a telegram to Latvian Speaker of the Assembly Ingrida Udre to congratulate on his election.

On November 11 2002, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan respectively sent letters to Latvian newly elected Prime Minister Einars Repse, Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete to congratulate upon their election.

From January 14 to 17 2003, at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Yekszinsch, State Secretary of Latvian Foreign Ministry, and Laizdi, Secretary of Latvian Ministry of Communications, headed a delegation to China for a visit. Minister of Railways Fu Zhihuan, Vice Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress Li Shuzheng, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Zhou Keren, and Vice Minister of Communications Hong Shanxiang respectively met with the delegation. Vice Foreign Minister Liu Guchang held talks with the Latvian delegation. Besides Beijing, the delegation also brought its trip to Hong Kong.

On February 25 2003, Latvian Foreign Minister Sandra Kalniete extended a letter to his Chinese counterpart Tang Jiaxuan to expression condolence to the casualties caused by the earthquake in the Xinjing Uygur Autonomous Region. On March 7, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan expressed thanks to his Latvian counterpart in a reply letter.

On March 21, 2003, Latvian Foreign Minister Kalniete sent a congratulatory telegram to Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing for his successful election.

On March 25 2003, Latvian President Freiberga rendered a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao congratulating on his election.

From April 23 to 26 2003, Deputy Secretary General of Latvian Parliament Baltashevich headed a People's Harmony Party delegation to China for a visit at the invitation of the Association for International Understanding of China. Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Jiang Zhenghua met with the delegation and held a banquet for the guests. Zhang Zhiju, Advisor to the Association for International Understanding of China and Vice Minister of International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, held talks with the delegation. Ma wenjin, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress and Vice Minister of the International Liaison Deparment of the CCCPC, and Vice Foreign Minister Liu Guchang respectively met with the delegation.

III. Bilateral economic and trade ties and economic and technological cooperation

Sino-Latvian Economic and Trade Joint Committee, has been in smooth operation, has so far held two regular conferences.

In 2002, the trade volume between China and Latvia reached US$72.75 million, up 79% than that of the previous year. Of the total, China's import amounted to US$5.24 million and export US$67.52 million, up 3.7 percent and 43.5 percent respectively from the previous year.

IV. Exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, technology and education

From August 23 to 26 2002, Deputy Mayor of Harbin, the capital city of Northeast China's Helongjiang Province, led a delegation for a visit to the Latvian city of Ergapals and discussed with the Latvian side about the establishment of friendship-city relations.

From September 10 to 15 2002, Peterssone, Latvian Minister of Culture, visited China at the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Culture and met with Sun Jiazheng, Minister of Culture of the P. R. C. The two sides signed the 2003-2005 Cultural Exchange Plan between the two cultural ministries. The delegation also had a trip to Shanghai and Xi'an after its visit to Beijing.

On September 13 2002, the Exhibition on the Jingdezgen Porcelain, China was opened at the Riga Museum for Foreign Arts. Latvian President Freiberga, Minister of Cluture Peterssone attended the exhibition.

From September 27 to 30, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Journalists' Association Shi Junsheng led a journalist delegation for a visit to Latvia at the invitation of Chairman of the Latvian Journalists' Association Azuofsika. The delegation had contacts with some members of the Latvian Parliament, journalists' representatives, and some officials from the cities of Riga and Wenzipals.

On October 15 2002, a Latvian Film Association delegation visited China to attend the "Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers'' Film Festival at the invitation of China Film Association.

On October 23 2002, at the invitation of Director of the State Auditing Administration Li Jinhua, Director of the Latvian Auditing Administration Esite Shelnayis visited China.

From October 15 to 31 2002, Latvian pipe organ performer Taldis Dikinis visited China for performance.