Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met with Maldivian President Maumoon
Abdul Gayoom Tuesday and hopes to strengthen cooperation between
the countries' legislative bodies.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee and the National People's
Congress (NPC) and a member of the powerful standing
committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the
Communist Party of China, said developing parliamentary
relationships would assist further develop China-Maldives ties.
The two had enhanced cooperation in political, economic and
trade areas and maintained coordination in international affairs,
he said. "We advocate democratization in international relations
and hold that countries large or small, rich or poor, strong or
weak are all equal members of the international community," said
Wu. He added that China appreciated the support of the Maldives on
the issues of Taiwan and human rights.
Gayoom said the Maldives and China had close cooperation in many
fields and held similar views on several international and regional
issues. He thanked China for their long-term assistance to his
country and said the Maldives hoped to expand tourism and fishing
cooperation with China.
Parliamentary relations should also be strengthened and he
reaffirmed that the Maldivian government would continue to observe
the one-China policy.
Gayoom arrived in Beijing on Monday on a three-day state visit
to China.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)