Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel will start a seven-day trip to China on Tuesday, a visit expected to focus on improving economic and political relations with the Asian power. With a delegation representing 90 Austrian firms, the main emphasis would be on expanding bilateral economic relations, Schuessel's office announced Thursday. Talks were planned with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Vice-President Zeng Qinghong. Schuessel's delegation was to meet the National People's Congress chairman, Wu Bangguo. Austria has attached particular importance to the long-planned visit due to its assumption of the E.U. presidency in the first half of 2006. --acSP 1247 Local Time 0947 GMT
