China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said here Monday that he hoped the inter-parliamentary exchange mechanism set up between China and Australia will play a big role in promoting bilateral cooperation.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks at a meeting with Ian Harris, clerk of the Australian House of Representatives.

Harris signed a memorandum of understanding with the Chinese side here Sunday to establish a regular exchange mechanism between the NPC, China's top legislative body, and the Australian House of Representatives.

Wu, who visited Australia last year, said the signing of this MOU institutionalized inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, and will help maintain the ongoing exchanges between the two sides.

Harris said Australia wants to develop its relations with China, and hopes that parliamentary exchanges will help lift bilateral relations to a new level.

Harris is here as guest of Sheng Huaren, vice-chairman and secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee.

Chinese statistics show that Sino-Australian trade volume reached 27.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2005, a year-on-year increase of 33 percent.

Source: Xinhua