Wu Bangguo (L),visiting Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, shakes hands with Moldavian President Vladinir Voronin in Chisinau, capital of Moldova,May 21, 2006.[Xinhua Photo]

Wu Bangguo (L),visiting Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, walks along with Moldavian President Vladinir Voronin in Chisinau, capital of Moldova, May 21, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]

Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met with Moldavian President Vladinir Voronin on promoting cooperation between the two countries in Chisinau on Sunday. Wu arrived here earlier Saturday for a two-day official visit following a trip to Romania.

During the meeting, Voronin said that the exchange of high-level visits between the two countries has contributed to promoting bilateral relations to a higher level. He expressed his belief that Wu's ongoing visit will further strengthen relations and promote cooperation between the two countries.

Voronin said that developing friendly relations with China is a consensus among the Moldavian government, parliament and political parties, which is conducive to the fundamental interests of the Moldavian people.

He said the good political ties between Moldova and China should constitute an impetus to enhancing cooperation in economic and trade fields.

The president reiterated that his government sticks to the one-China policy, saying that there is but one China in the world.

Wu said that bilateral ties between China and Moldova have developed healthily since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 14 years ago.

The visit by then Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Moldova in 2001 and the one by President Voronin to China in 2003 had helped push the Sino-Moldavian ties to new highs, he added.

Wu noted that China attaches importance to Sino-Moldavian relations and is willing to work together with Moldova to increase exchanges of top-level visits and to deepen economic and trade cooperation, so as to further develop the bilateral relations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

Moldova is the second leg of Wu's four-nation tour, which will also take him to Greece and Russia.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)