The strengthening of parliamentary exchanges and cooperation between China and Guyana will help push forward the expansion of bilateral relations, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Wu Bangguo said in Beijing Monday.

Wu made the remark in his meeting with a delegation from the National Assembly of Guyana headed by its Speaker Hari Narayen Ramkarran in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Monday afternoon.

Wu said Guyana was the first English-spoken Caribbean country that established diplomatic relations with China. The two countries have seen all round development of bilateral relations and supported each other in international affairs since then, Wu said.

Wu said frequent exchanges of high-level visits in recent years have helped deepen mutual trust between the two countries. He appreciated the government and parliament of Guyana for their consistent adherence to the "one-China" policy. He expressed the wish that the government, parliament and people of Guyana will continue to support China's great cause of reunification.

Ramkarran said the two countries have maintained a friendly relationship of cooperation over the years. And bilateral relations are expanding to wider areas and higher levels at present, he said.

Ramkarran thanked China for its support to Guyana in its economic and social development, adding that expanding relations with China is a common will of all political sections of Guyana.

He reiterated Guyana's stance on firmly adhering to the "one-China" policy and supporting China's reunification.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2004)