Top Chinese lawmaker Wu Bangguo Thursday called for further exchanges between the parliaments of China and Kenya to accelerate the development of bilateral ties.

During a meeting with Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, Wu said China's National People's Congress (NPC) wants to improve friendly exchanges with Kenya's National Assembly at all levels and deepen cooperation between the special committees under the two parliaments to exchange experience in democracy and legal system building.

He also urged the two parliaments to improve consultations and cooperation in multi-lateral organizations in a bid to improve mutual understanding and help promote the development of bilateral ties.

Wu also hailed the 42-year-long Sino-Kenyan ties, saying that the relations between the two countries have kept developing smoothly despite international and domestic changes.

Calling Kenya a "reliable friend", Wu said China values its relations with Kenya and is ready to further speed-up the long-term and steady growth of a bilateral friendly and cooperative partnership to the benefit the people of both countries.

Kibaki said Kenya appreciates China's support and help over the past decades and that China is a precious friend and partner of Kenya.

Kibaki started his five-day China trip Monday. On Wednesday, he had talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao and the two countries signed five cooperative documents covering economic and technological exchanges, air transportation and quarantine procedures.

Underscoring that a series of important agreements have been reached between him and the Chinese leaders during this visit, Kibaki said he believed that Kenya-China relations will embrace an even brighter future with the joint efforts.

Kibaki is scheduled to leave Beijing for Shenzhen, an economic boomtown in south China's Guangdong Province Friday before returning home.

Source: Xinhua