BEIJING, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo is on a two-week tour that includes official goodwill visits to Iran, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Fiji.
Wu reaffirmed China's stance on key bilateral and international issues during his meetings with the leaders of the four countries, and the trip has helped cement China's ties with these countries amid complex and changing international situations.
CHINA "FAIR AND OBJECTIVE" ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR ISSUE
Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said in Tehran last Monday that China has always held a fair and objective stance on the Iranian nuclear issue and is opposed to the research, development and possession of nuclear weapons by any Mideast country.
Meanwhile, China believes that a country's right for the peaceful use of nuclear power should be guaranteed, Wu told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
China opposes indulging in slapping sanctions, mounting pressure and even intimidating with force in dealing with the Iranian nuclear issue, and has always believed that dialogue and cooperation are the right way to properly settle the issue, Wu said.
China is willing to continue playing a constructive role in the peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue, Wu said.
Wu asked Iran to stick to peaceful negotiations and continue to be flexible and pragmatic, so as to push for substantial progress in its talks with the six major powers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
Ahmadinejad briefed Wu on Tehran's view on the nuclear issue. He said that Iran hopes to settle the issue through dialogue and cooperation and will stay in touch with all concerned parties.
He also said that Iran is ready to deepen ties with China and continue to expand practical cooperation with China in economy, trade, energy, agriculture and infrastructure.
PROMOTING CHINA-MYANMAR COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP
In a first-ever visit to Myanmar by a chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, Wu proposed measures to promote China's comprehensive strategic partnership with Myanmar.
In a meeting with Myanmar President U Thein Sein last Friday, Wu said both China and Myanmar should continue to enhance bilateral strategic mutual trust by firmly supporting each other on issues concerning each other's major interests and jointly safeguarding the overall situation of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The top legislator urged both sides to strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, push forward the agreed major cooperation projects, such as the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline, and those that are helpful for Myanmar to upgrade its national industry and improve its people's living standards.
In addition, Wu also said bilateral cultural and people-to-people exchanges should be further deepened.
Calling China Myanmar's real friend, U Thein Sein said his country will strengthen practical cooperation with China in fields such as infrastructure, agriculture and energy.
In talks with Thura U Shwe Mann, speaker of the House of Representatives of Myanmar, Wu said China is willing to continue to enhance cooperation with Myanmar on border management and jointly safeguard stability in the border region, adding that China respects Myanmar's sovereignty and territorial integrity and hopes the relevant parties of Myanmar could solve problems through peaceful negotiation.
Recent years saw a steady growth of China-Myanmar economic and trade cooperation in both scale and level. In 2011, China-Myanmar trade totalled 6.5 billion U.S. dollars, up 46.3 percent from a year earlier. China has invested 14.14 billion dollars in Myanmar as of August this year, becoming the largest foreign investor in Myanmar.
LIFTING CHINA-SRI LANKA TIES TO HIGHER LEVEL
In a meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, Wu said China-Sri Lanka relations are now "at the best period of development in history," and pledged further aid within its capacity for Sri Lanka's development.
China and Sri Lanka have seen sustained growth in bilateral trade, and have made smooth progress on such infrastructure projects as the second phase of the Hambantota port, a container terminal and a coal-fired power plant, said Wu, the first chairman of the NPC Standing Committee to visit the country.
He suggested both sides adjust trade structure and expand trade scale, saying China will take measures to import more from Sri Lanka and step up cooperation with Sri Lanka on investment and tourism.
Wu also said the two countries should enhance cooperation on areas such as maritime research, climate change, disaster relief as well as animal husbandry, farm product processing and biomass energy.
Rajapakse, for his part, said Sri Lanka now has great demand for infrastructure construction and personnel training as the country is striving for rapid growth, and it welcomes more Chinese firms to invest and participate in the construction of railway, port and power plants.
China and Sri Lanka forged diplomatic ties in 1957 and upgraded their relations to comprehensive cooperative partnership of sincerity and mutual support in 2005.
During his visit, Wu signed 16 agreements, ranging from visa exemption and marine development to economic and technical cooperation.
PLEDGING FURTHER COOPERATION WITH FIJI
Speaking highly of China-Fiji relations, Wu said during talks with Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama that China has always regarded Fiji as a good friend and partner in the Pacific island region, and is willing to work with Fiji to lift bilateral ties to a higher level.
Wu suggested the two countries further increase political trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, trade and investment. China will continue to provide aid within its capacity to Fiji, he said.
During Wu's visit, the two countries signed three agreements on economic cooperation, including one on economic and technological cooperation, a framework agreement on government-level concessional loan, and an agreement on concessional loan for a road upgrading project.
China encourages its enterprises to conduct mutually-beneficial cooperation with Fiji and contribute to the economic and social development in the country, Wu said.
China will support the Pacific island nations including Fiji for their reasonable appeals on such issues as sustainable development, energy security and ocean resources, said Wu.
On climate change, Wu said the Chinese government fully understands the concerns of the island nations like Fiji and hopes that developing nations could be united, uphold the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" and urge the developed countries to fulfill their due obligations.