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Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with visiting U.S. Senator John McCain at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, on April 8, 2009. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) |
Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Wednesday met with visiting U.S. Senator John McCain.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, said China-U.S. relations had gone through a smooth transition and had got off to a good start since the new U.S. administration took office in January.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barack Obama met on the sidelines of the G20 summit on global financial crisis in London last week.
Hu and Obama agreed to work together to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship for the 21st century, which charted a path for the development of bilateral relations in the new era.
"China would like to work with the United States to carry out the two presidents' consensus and boost the sound and steady growth of bilateral ties," Wu said.
Wu called on both sides to take a strategic and long-term perspective, carry out dialogue, exchange and cooperation, respect and care for each other's core interests, and properly address disputes and sensitive issues.
On the economic front, Wu proposed stronger coordination of macroeconomic policy, joint efforts to fight trade and investment protectionism, stabilize international financial markets and play their due roles in reviving the world economy.
Wu said legislature-to-legislature relations constitute an important part in bilateral relationship.
"The NPC would like to step up exchanges with the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, carry out candid dialogue, enhance mutual understanding, so as to inject a new vitality into China-U.S. relations in the new era," Wu said.
McCain, who was on a two-day visit to China, recalled his first China visit in 1979, shortly after the two countries forged diplomatic relations on Jan. 1, 1979.
In their meeting on Wednesday, McCain told Wu that China's development was a great success in world history.
He said U.S-China relations were in the fundamental interests of both countries and their peoples, conducive to world peace and development.
McCain said they would encourage and boost more dialogue and exchanges between legislators of the two countries, in an effort to deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields.
Earlier Wednesday, McCain met with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie.