Chinese top legislator vows to further cooperation with CE parliamentary assembly

Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo said Friday that the National People's Congress (NPC) of China will further enhance exchange and cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in a bid to promote Sino-European ties.

Wu, chairman of the NPC standing committed, told Peter Schieder, president of the European assembly, that China values its relations with European countries, the European Union and the Council of Europe.

"China is ready to further push forward the existing sound ties from a strategic point of view," Wu said, noting that Sino-European ties were at a mature and stable stage.

The two sides maintained frequent high-level exchange and conducted fruitful cooperation in trade and economy, science and technology, education and culture and consultation and coordination in international and regional affairs, he added.

Progressing Sino-European ties is in the interests of both China and Europe, benefiting the two sides' development and world peace and prosperity, Wu said.

Schieder said he witnessed the great progress in China during his six visits to the country over the last 40 years, appreciating China's economic and social development and its role on the international arena.

The Council of Europe and the Parliamentary assembly attaches importance to the relationship with China and its National People's Congress, hoping to further and deepen cooperation in a bid to promote Europe-China ties, he said.