Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met with Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom Tuesday and hopes to strengthen cooperation between the countries' legislative bodies.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee and the National People's Congress (NPC) and a member of the powerful standing committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said developing parliamentary relationships would assist further develop China-Maldives ties.

The two had enhanced cooperation in political, economic and trade areas and maintained coordination in international affairs, he said. "We advocate democratization in international relations and hold that countries large or small, rich or poor, strong or weak are all equal members of the international community," said Wu. He added that China appreciated the support of the Maldives on the issues of Taiwan and human rights.

Gayoom said the Maldives and China had close cooperation in many fields and held similar views on several international and regional issues. He thanked China for their long-term assistance to his country and said the Maldives hoped to expand tourism and fishing cooperation with China.

Parliamentary relations should also be strengthened and he reaffirmed that the Maldivian government would continue to observe the one-China policy.

Gayoom arrived in Beijing on Monday on a three-day state visit to China.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)