Wu Bangguo (R, front), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, is greeted upon his arrival in Madrid, capital of Spain, May 23, 2012. Wu Bangguo arrived here Wednesday on an official goodwill visit to Spain. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
MADRID, May 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived here Wednesday on an official goodwill visit to Spain, with an eye to further advance bilateral relationship.
"I believe, under joint efforts, the visit will help consolidate friendship, promote mutual trust, expand consensus and deepen cooperation between the two countries," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), in a written speech upon his arrival.
This is the first-ever tour to Spain by a Chinese NPC Standing Committee chairman.
As the international situations have undergone profound and complex changes, and against the backdrop of increasingly significant global challenges, closer Sino-Spanish friendly cooperation complies with the fundamental interests of both countries and peoples and is conducive to world peace, development and stability, said Wu.
During the six-day visit, Wu is to hold separate meetings with Spanish King Juan Carlos, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, President of the Spanish Congress Jesus Posada and President of Spanish Senate Pio Garcia-Escudero.
Spain is the last leg of Wu's four-European nation tour, which has taken him to the Netherlands, Croatia and Luxembourg.
On Tuesday, Wu held talks with Laurent Mosar, president of the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg.
Noting that the NPC and the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg have cemented good cooperative foundation through years of friendly exchanges, Wu hoped that the two sides would expand communications, conduct in-depth, candid dialogue over topics of common concern, with an aim to increase mutual understanding and help lift bilateral relationship to a higher level.
Mosar, for his part, said he was deeply impressed by China's rapid social and economic development as he attended the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, during which he gained a deeper insight into the prospect of bilateral cooperation.
The Luxembourg parliament is willing to promote friendly exchanges between the two parliaments, support bilateral cooperation on areas like education and aviation so as to contribute to Sino-Luxembourgian relations, said Mosar.