Senior legislator Han Qide met on Monday with visiting Bulgarian Defense Minister Veselin Bliznakov, vowing to further promote bilateral cooperation in various fields including the military area.

Han, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, said China and Bulgaria have been strengthening political trust and expanding exchanges and cooperation in various areas over the past years.

He told Bliznakov that China attaches importance to developing friendly relations with Bulgaria, and is ready to join hands with the country to step up cooperation in a bid to promote the sustained and healthy development of bilateral ties.

In response, Bliznakov said Bulgaria takes China as its most important cooperative partner in Asia. The two countries have witnessed increasing exchanges in recent years, and conducted active cooperation in the defense field, he added.

He also reiterated Bulgaria's firm adherence to the one-China policy.

Bliznakov is visiting China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan.

(Xinhua News Agency September 25, 2007)