Chinese State Councilor Meng Jianzhu and Canadian cabinet member Jason Kenney agreed Tuesday that the two countries would step up cooperation to tackle illegal immigration agents.

"China is willing to work with Canada to advance law-enforcement cooperation," Meng told Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Meng, also China's Public Security Minister, spoke positively of the development of bilateral relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties 40 years ago.

He said the two countries should seriously implement the China-Canada joint statement, which was the first of its kind setting down a series of guiding principles for developing China-Canada relations.

The joint statement had been one of the key achievements made by the two countries during a visit by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to China last December.

Meng said China was ready to work with Canada to boost the bilateral strategic partnership.

Kenney said Canada was willing to make concerted efforts with China to push the bilateral law-enforcement cooperation towards a more in-depth, pragmatic and efficient direction.