China's senior legislator Han Qide Thursday called for Chinese and Latin American youth to further enhance their exchanges and cooperation.

Han, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, made the remarks at his meeting with a delegation of Latin American and the Caribbean youth who are in Beijing for a China-Latin America youth festival.

He said the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China highly value their relations with countries of Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Han expressed his hope that the Chinese and Latin American youth will increase understanding, deepen friendship and make positive contributions in promoting the development of their countries as well as long-term Sino-Latin American friendship.

The delegation has come to visit China at the invitation of the All-China Youth Federation.

The China-Latin America youth festival is proposed by President Hu Jintao during his state visit to Brazil in November, 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2005)