Li Peng, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said in Beijing Monday that China is willing to work with India to further develop bilateral relations in the new century.
"It is the common wish of the two peoples to maintain and develop a healthy, stable, and good-neighborly cooperative relationship on the basis of the five principles of peaceful co- existence," Li said while meeting Najma Heptulla, president of the Council of the Inter-parliamentary Union.
Li said that building such a relationship will also help to maintain peace and stability in Asia and the world at large.
Heptulla, who is also deputy chairperson of India's Upper House of Parliament, is leading an Indian delegation consisting of members of parliament, leading entrepreneurs and trade union members on a visit to China.
Li said China has always attached great importance to the development of friendly cooperative relations with India.
The top Chinese legislator said that both China and India are ancient civilized countries, and their bilateral relationship has developed with a good momentum in recent years.
Li also expressed appreciation and pleasure for the support of the Indian government and parliament for the One-China policy, national reunification and China's bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).
At the same time, he praised Heptulla for upholding justice in dealing with parliamentary worldwide.
Li said China's NPC always pays great attention to conducting and strengthening friendly exchanges with parliaments of other countries.
He added that China and India have great potential in carrying out mutually beneficial cooperation.
"We hope Indian businessmen will make further contacts with their Chinese partners, and enhance their understanding of China's economy and market," he said, adding that the Chinese side is willing to do its own bit in this regard.
Heptulla said that this occasion was the fourth time for her to meet Li in one year, and that she felt honored and pleased to visit China again.
She noted that the hospitality accorded to her was as warm as the weather in Beijing.
India is glad to see the improvement of relations between the two countries, she said.
She also mentioned that an inter-parliamentary friendship group proposed by Li has started operating.
Heptulla echoed Li's opinion that the parliaments of the two countries should make bilateral or multilateral cooperation closer.
(xinhua News Agency 07/02/2001 )
