Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo arrived in New York Tuesday to attend the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments scheduled to start Wednesday at the headquarters of the United Nations.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, flew in from Rabat, where he paid a three-day official good-will visit to Morocco.

The conference is being convened as a follow-up to the first gathering of presiding officers that was organized by the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) in August-September 2000 on the occasion of the United Nations Millennium Assembly.

More than 150 speakers of parliaments are due to attend the Sept. 7-9 conference, which will present its declaration directly to the Summit of Heads of State and Government that will take place at the same venue from Sept. 14 to Sept. 19.

Wu will address the conference and have broad contacts with speakers of other countries and officials of relevant international organizations and exchange views with them on bilateral relations and major international issues of common concern, so as to enhance the exchange and cooperation between the NPC and parliaments of other countries.

The overall purpose of the conference is to present the United Nations with a comprehensive view, and at the highest possible level, of the contribution of the world's parliaments in strengthening the multilateral system and in furthering peace, security, democracy, human rights and development pursuant to internationally agreed commitments, the IPU said.

While in Morocco, Wu held meetings with Moroccan King Mohamed VI, Prime Minister Driss Jettou, Chamber of Representatives President Abdeloughed Radi and Senate Speaker Moustapha Okacha, reaching common understanding on important issues such as the furthering of bilateral ties, the strengthening of legislative exchanges and the expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation.

During the trip, the Chinese parliament head also attended the signing ceremony of four cooperation documents on Moroccan phosphate exports to China, Sino-Moroccan joint investment, economic and technical cooperation, and textiles management and personnel training.

Source: Xinhua