Top Chinese, Bangladeshi legislators hold talks

Top Chinese and Bangladeshi legislators met on Wednesday and vowed to strengthen parliamentary cooperation between the two countries. "China and Bangladesh are friendly neighbors. It is a fixed policy for China to further consolidate and promote their friendly cooperation," said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body. He briefed his Bangladeshi counterpart Abdul Hamid on China's system of people's congresses and said that parliamentary relations are an important part of overall China-Bangladesh relations. Wu called on the two sides to carry out exchanges at multiple levels, learn more from each other in the construction of their democratic and legal systems, promote economic development and improve the livelihoods of their people. Hamid, speaker of the Bangladeshi National Assembly, said China is Bangladesh's trustworthy friend and has provided the country with long-term assistance. The Bangladeshi National Assembly will further strengthen communication with the NPC, promote cooperation between the two countries and enhance ties between the peoples, Hamid said. Wu, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said China will deepen political mutual trust with Bangladesh, expand cooperation and cultural exchanges, strengthen multilateral coordination and bring their comprehensive partnership to a new high. Hamid reiterated Bangladesh's adherence to the one-China policy. Hamid is on a six-day official visit to China at the invitation of Wu.