Visiting Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao met with Lord Derry Irvine, the British Lord High Chancellor of the Upper House, in London on Monday.

During the meeting in the Upper House, Hu conveyed to Lord Irvine cordial greetings from Li Peng, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress. Irvine in turn asked Hu to extend his best regards to Li Peng.

Hu thanked Lord Irvine for his involvement in the development of Sino-British relations over the past years, adding that the Parliamentary exchanges played an important role in promoting bilateral ties between the two countries.

The Chinese National People's Congress and its British counterpart enhanced mutual understanding and promoted bilateral relations through frequent exchanges of visits, Hu said. China would like to see more British parliament members to visit China to get to understand China better so as to contribute more to the long-term and stable development of Sino-British relations.

At the host's request, Hu briefed Lord Irvine on China's stance on fighting against terrorism.

(China Daily October 30,2001)