Visiting top legislator Wu Bangguo hailed on Tuesday China's good cooperative relations with Singapore and called for increased exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries.  

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, held talks with Singapore Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi. They had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations, parliamentary exchanges and other issues of common interest, and reached wide-ranging consensus.

Wu, who arrived in Singapore earlier in the day for a three-day official goodwill visit, gave a positive assessment of bilateral relations, noting that there have been frequent exchanges of visits by top leaders of the two countries in recent years, which increased mutual understanding and trust and economic and trade cooperation.

Remarkable achievements have been made in bilateral exchanges in science and technology, culture, education, personnel training and other fields, Wu said.

China-Singapore cooperation has been marked by its high levels and mutual understanding and respect, he added.

Wu said China attaches great importance to its relationship with Singapore and the aim of his current visit to the Southeast Asian country is to give a fresh impetus to the good relations of cooperation between the two countries so that they will grow in an all-round way.

Abdullah noted the importance of Wu's visit to further bilateral ties and exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries. He added that in addition to the frequent exchanges of visits at the top level, there have been good exchanges between different departments of the two countries, which have given a strong boost to the development of bilateral ties.

Singapore is ready to increase exchanges and cooperation with China in various areas and at various levels, Abdullah said.

Wu said exchanges between parliaments form an important part of state-to-state relations and strengthening parliamentary exchanges will help promote mutual understanding and friendship between peoples of different countries. A good foundation exists for exchanges and cooperation between the NPC and the Singapore Parliament, he added.

The NPC is ready to strengthen friendly exchanges with the Singapore Parliament at various levels, Wu said. He invited Singapore parliamentarians, young MPs in particular, to often pay visits to China and see for themselves what is happening there.

Abdullah agreed. He also reaffirmed his country's adherence to the one-China policy.

Wu expressed his appreciation for Singapore's adherence to the one-China policy, stressing that it constitutes the political foundation for developing bilateral relations.

After their talks, Abdullah gave a banquet in honor of the Chinese guest.

Singapore is the first leg of Wu's current four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which will also take him to Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2005)