Wu Bangguo (R Front), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, meets with President of the Uzbek Senate Ilgizar Sabirov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 22, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China and Uzbekistan called for further cooperation between the two parliaments in an aim to step up bilateral relations.
The rapid growth of bilateral relations has generated new demands as well as opportunities for the two parliaments to foster their ties, said top legislator Wu Bangguo.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, made the remarks in his meeting with the visiting President of the Uzbek Senate Ilgizar Sabirov on Friday in Beijing.
Wu urged the parliaments of the two nations to take full advantage of their legislative functions to establish solid legal foundations for the two nations to expand their pragmatic cooperation.
The parliament members of the two nations who come from different walks of life should play active roles to bridge the exchange and cooperation between the two nations and peoples, as well as promote bilateral collaboration at local levels, Wu noted.
Hailing the recent development of bilateral ties, Wu stressed that China values its ties with Uzbekistan, and the two heads of state already reached an important consensus to cement bilateral cooperation with mutual benefits.
Sabirov said Uzbekistan considers China as a reliable friend and cooperative partner and is committed to deepening the all-round and pragmatic cooperation in many fields.
Sabirov also spoke positively of the efforts that the NPC has made to facilitate the establishment of China's legal system with Chinese socialist characteristics, expressing his hope that the Uzbek Senate could learn from the successful experience the NPC has acquired during the process.
As Wu's guest, Sabirov arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for a week-long official goodwill visit to China.
He also met with Chen Zhili, vice-chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee, prior to meeting with Wu.
On Thursday, the Uzbek Senate president also conferred with Vice Premier Li Keqiang on bilateral ties. The two sides both vowed to push forward China-Uzbekistan friendly cooperative ties to a new stage.
Li said China will work closely with Uzbekistan to promote greater development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in next 10 years.
The two countries' economies are highly compatible, Li said, adding that the fruitful, substantial cooperation between both countries has brought concrete benefits to the two peoples.
To further expand bilateral win-win cooperation, Li proposed to further boost trade volume, enhance energy, resources, investment and trade cooperation, and expand cooperation in high-tech fields.
Sabirov said his country is ready to make joint efforts with China to promote sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral ties and further enhance coordination with China in the SCO.