The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, is willing to increase exchanges with the parliament of Mozambique so as to contribute to the overall development of relations between the two countries, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo said in Beijing Tuesday.  

Exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries serve as an important channel for deepening understanding and friendship between the two countries, Wu said during a meeting with visiting Mozambican President Joaquim Alberto Chissano.

Wu said the Chinese and Mozambican people have a long tradition of friendship. Since they forged diplomatic relations 29 years ago, China and Mozambique have developed friendly ties smoothly, achieved fruitful results in trade, economic and cultural cooperation, and supported each other in international affairs.

Describing China-Mozambique cooperation as a model for the South-South cooperation, Wu expressed appreciation of Mozambique's adherence to the one-China policy and its support for China's reunification.

Wu said China and Mozambique have no fundamental disputes. Under the new circumstances, strengthening solidarity and cooperation between the two countries meets the basic interests of the two peoples.

Chissano said the bilateral cooperation has a bright perspective. A stable political situation and economic development in both countries helped enhance the bilateral cooperation.

He said he hoped the Mozambican parliament would have more exchanges with the NPC.

Mozambique welcomes China's policies toward relations with developing countries and Africa and will make more contributions to push forward the relationship between Africa and China, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2004)