China and Russia signed a cooperation agreement between China's National People's Congress (NPC) and Russian Federation Council in Beijing on Sunday, marking the start of a regular parliamentary exchange mechanism.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, and visiting Speaker of the Russian Federation Council Sergei Mironov held talks before the signing ceremony, and agreed to further exchanges in legislation and other fields.

Wu put forward four-point proposals to further Sino-Russian parliamentary cooperation, including deepening political trust; expanding economic and trade cooperation, enhancing the personnel exchanges, and promoting cooperation in the international and regional affairs.

"China would like to work with the Russian Federation Council for closer exchange between legislative organs, and expand cooperation in all levels and fields, so as to promote relations between the two countries," Wu said.

Wu gave a positive appraisal of the current Sino-Russian relations, and made references to President Hu Jintao's two visits to Russia this year, the signing of an east border agreement last year, and the NPC regular contact with both the Russian Federation Council and State Duma.

Mironov said Russia and China have entered a new phase in their strategic and cooperative partnership. President Hu, on one of his visits to Russia this year, reached a consensus with President Vladimir Putin to build a just and reasonable international political and economic new order, Mironov added.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2005)