China's National People's Congress (NPC) is willing to widen
exchanges with the Australian parliament and its members to promote
understanding and cooperation, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Li
Peng said in Beijing Tuesday.
At
a meeting with visiting Australian Prime Minister John Howard in
Beijing, Li said the relationship between China and Australia has
grown steadily over the past three decades. The consensus reached
between leaders of both countries on a healthy, stable relationship
of all-round cooperation has laid a foundation for a wide range of
bilateral exchanges and cooperation.
Li
noted that person-to-person visits between the two countries
remained friendly in recent years. Communication and cooperation in
international affairs had also improved.
He
said the NPC greatly values friendly exchanges and cooperation with
the Australian parliament, and such contact has played an important
role in boosting bilateral ties.
Howard said he was glad to visit China once more on the 30th
anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. He agreed
with Li on the growth of bilateral ties, saying bilateral ties have
changed significantly since he last visited China.
Looking ahead, he said, Australia is confident of friendly
cooperation with China. He congratulated China on Beijing's
successful bid for the 2008 Olympic
Games, adding that Australia would offer Beijing strong support
for hosting the Games.
He
also expressed the wish to widen bilateral trade and economic
links.
(Xinhua News
Agency May 22, 2002)