Sheng Huaren, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, met Sunday afternoon with a delegation from the Armed Services Committee of the House of Representatives of the United States.

The delegation was headed by congressman Roscoe Bartlett.

Sheng said the regular exchange mechanism between Chinese NPC and the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have made positive achievements and the mechanism should be strengthened.

"The two sides should follow the important consensus reached between the leaders of both countries to continuously enrich the contents of the dialogues and play an active role in promoting China-U.S. constructive relationship of cooperation," said Sheng, who is also secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee.

Before the meeting, the delegation held talks with the foreign affairs committee of the NPC.

Bartlett said the two sides have discussed such issues as energy and defense during the talks.

Calling China-U.S. relationship the most important relationship, Bartlett said it was very important for the two countries to conduct cooperation in the energy and technology areas.

"The United States is a big energy consumer, and China is a country with a big population and rapid economic growth," said Bartlett, "if it goes for the U.S. and China (in energy), so goes the world."

Bartlett said he hoped the two countries could further strengthen cooperation to make the transition to renewable energy of the world as smooth and easy as possible.

The U.S. delegation was invited by the NPC foreign affairs committee for a good-will visit to China from Dec. 30, 2006 to January 2, 2007.

Source: Xinhua