BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met here Sunday morning with Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, who attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games on Friday night.

    Wen extended welcome to Vanhanen and his entourage.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen during their meeting in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2008.(Xinhua Photo/Li Tao) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Your presence reminded me of the 1952 Olympiad in Helsinki," Wen said. "That was the first time that the new China organized athletes to attend the Olympic Games."

    The Chinese team was warmly received by the Finnish people during the Games, and the Chinese people never forgot that, he said.

    Finland had sent a large number of athletes to the Beijing Games, which was a big support, Wen said.

    Vanhanen said the world had seen China's efforts in preparing for the Games and the opening ceremony was very successful.

    He said although he wasn't born when Helsinki hosted the Olympics, he knew the Games' significance to the Finnish people.

    "So I totally understand the significance of the Beijing Games to the Chinese people, and I firmly believe the Games will be a success," he said.

    Wen said Finland was China's reliable and good friend and partner in the European Union.

    The two sides had fruitful cooperation in traditional spheres, and their cooperation in new areas including energy conservation, environmental protection and technological innovation was also making encouraging progress, he said.

    "We are ready to work with the Finnish side, on the basis of mutual respect and reciprocity, to propel the bilateral ties to a new high," he said.

    Vanhanen said bilateral ties were maintaining good development momentum, and Finland had become China's biggest trade partner in northern Europe.

    Finland hoped to maintain high-level exchanges with China, and further promote their cooperation in technological innovation and other areas, he said.