Parliament and party leaders from China and the Philippines on Wednesday vowed to enhance exchanges and cooperation between the two nation's parties and legislative bodies in a bid to further promote bilateral ties.

 

"The Sino-Philippine ties are at their most healthy period since the two countries established diplomatic relations," said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and member of the Communist Party (CPC) of China Central Committee Political Bureau Standing Committee.

 

China will exert joint efforts with the Philippines to push forward cooperation in fields such as trade and economy, agriculture, energy and infrastructure construction, Wu told Jose De Venecia, speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives and chairman of the Christian-Muslim Democrats party.

 

To boost the good-neighborly and friendly cooperation is in the fundamental interests of the two sides and to regional peace, stability and prosperity, Wu noted.

 

"The deepening exchanges between the two parties and legislative bodies will further the development of bilateral ties in an all-round and sound manner," Wu said at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing.

 

Jose De Venecia recalled the latest progress in bilateral cooperation, saying the Philippines House of Representatives and the Christian-Muslim Democrats party will expand cooperation with the NPC and CPC.

 

They also discussed regional and international issues of common concern.

 

(Xinhua News Agency June 29, 2006)