BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said on Thursday that China and the Philippines should further boost party-to-party exchanges and parliamentary cooperation.
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks while meeting with a delegation led by the Philippines' House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.
Wu praised the achievements of bilateral relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties 36 years ago, citing enhanced political trust, fruitful trade cooperation and expanded cultural exchanges.
He said that developing cooperative ties between China and the Philippines meets the common interests of the people of both countries.
China is committed to its policy of building solid relations with its neighbors and attaches great importance to its relations with the Philippines, he added.
Wu urged both countries to properly handle problems in bilateral ties through dialogues and consultation and to accelerate cooperation on a basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.
Wu told Belmonte, who is from the Philippines' ruling Liberal Party, that increasing party-to-party and parliamentary exchanges between the two countries has facilitated the growth of bilateral relations.
"China is ready to strengthen exchanges between the parliaments and parties of both nations and inject new vitality into our overall relations," he said.
Belmonte said the two countries have maintained close cooperation in various areas including politics, trade and culture.
He said his country hopes to make joint efforts with China to handle problems in bilateral relations and boost the growth of bilateral ties.
The delegation is visiting China at the invitation of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).