China is ready to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with Argentina to bring greater benefits to the people of the two countries, China's top legislator said Sunday.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met with Julian Dominguez, president of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Argentine parliament, in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing on Sunday morning.

Zhang said Argentina is an important South American cooperation partner for China.

"China places great importance on developing relations with Argentina," he said.

He said China is ready to strengthen friendly cooperation with Argentina, expand mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas, bring greater benefits to the people of the two countries and continuously strengthen the China-Argentina strategic partnership.

Zhang said the NPC has always placed importance on strengthening friendly cooperation with the Argentine Congress.

He also expressed China's readiness to further step up exchanges of experience in the areas of legislation and national governance.

He called for the legislatures of the two countries to carry out in-depth dialogue on issues of common interest, explaining that such dialogue could play a unique role in enhancing mutual trust, advancing practical cooperation and deepening the friendship between the two peoples.

Dominguez said it has become the consensus of various parties and groups of the Argentine parliament to develop relations with China.

He said the Argentine side respects the choice of the Chinese people on their own development path.

He also said the Argentine Chamber of Deputies is ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation with the NPC to contribute to the advancement of bilateral relations. Endi