Chairman Wu Bangguo and Chile's Senate President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle expressed on Wednesday their countries' willingness and wishes to expand bilateral relations.

Frei said during meeting with Wu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), that himself and the Senate have expected Wu's visit.

Wu's visit to Chile was the first official visit to Chile by a NPC Chairman and was seen as historic, marking a new stage in the relations between the two countries and their legislatures, Frei said.

For his part, Wu, who arrived in Santiago on Tuesday for a three-day visit to Chile, expressed his appreciation of Frei's efforts for years in promoting Sino-Chile relationship.

The bilateral relations have enjoyed smooth development since the two countries established diplomatic ties 36 years ago, Wu said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao's successful visit to Chile in 2004opened a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries and the rapid development of pragmatic cooperation in such fields as economy and trade has vigorously promoted economic development in both countries and brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, he added.

He also said China attaches great importance to developing relations with Chile and views the country as a good friend and partner.

"The purpose of my visit is to strengthen parliamentary exchanges, push forward bilateral economic and trade cooperation and promote the all-round partnership of cooperation between China and Chile," he said.

China's NPC is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges with Chile's Senate, to enhance cooperation between special panels of the two legislatures and strengthen consultation and cooperation of the two legislative bodies in international and regional parliamentary organizations, Wu said.

During the meeting, the two leaders stressed the political dialogue mechanism established between the two countries' legislative bodies in February is an important move in deepening their exchanges, for it builds a new platform for such exchanges.

The first session of the political dialogue committee was held during Wu's visit.

Frei also said the Chile's Senate attaches great importance to developing relations with China's NPC, saying Chile's political parties have a common understanding in developing relations with China.

Chile is willing to further expand exchanges and cooperation with China to push the all-round partnership of cooperation to a new high, Frei said.

Chileis the third and last leg of Wu's three-nation South America tour, which had taken him to Brazil and Uruguay.

(Source: Xinhua News Agency)