China's top legislator Wu Bangguo, who is on an official goodwill visit to Kenya, held talks in Nairobi with Kenyan National Assembly Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo Saturday on bilateral relations, China-Africa relations and other issues of common concern.  

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said enhancing Sino-Kenyan friendly relations and deepening exchanges and cooperation in various sectors are in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and beneficial to maintain peace and development in the region and the rest of the world.

He said China is willing to maintain the impetus of high-level visits with Kenya in order to strengthen mutual understandings and trust, deepen cooperation in economic and trade sectors, and improve coordination on multilateral occasions in protecting the interests of developing countries.

Wu said the China and Kenya endured a lot of dramatic changes in the international stage and have achieved steady development in various sectors since they established diplomatic ties in 1963.

The chairman said China highly valued its relations with Kenya, an influential East African country that plays an important role in the regional and international affairs.   

"The purpose of my visit is to further promote the development of Sino-African overall relations," he added.

On the parliamentarian exchanges, Wu said the NPC and Kenya's National Assembly have maintained ever-increasing exchanges to play a unique and important role in the development of relations between the two nations and two peoples. 

Wu pointed out that China and Kenya, though with different social, historic and cultural backgrounds, face the common task of promoting democracy and legalization construction. 

"The NPC is willing to enhance contacts and exchanges between leaders of the two parliaments, and between their special committees and various groups on legalization, in an effort to contribute to the overall development of bilateral relations in the new century," he added.

Wu also reaffirmed China's position on the Taiwan issue, saying the Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereign and territory integrity and the national sentiment of the 1.3 billion Chinese, including those in Taiwan.

Wu praised the Kenyan government in its steadfast support to the one-China principle and China's reuniting cause, stressing that such a support is the political foundation for maintaining and further developing Sino-Kenyan relations.

Kaparo said China, one of the countries that recognized and established diplomatic relations with Kenya at ambassador's level at the earliest time, is a sincere and reliable friend of Kenya.

The speaker appreciated China's long-term assistance to Kenya in various sectors and expressed the willingness to enhance the friendly parliamentarian exchanges as part of the effort to boost the development of bilateral relations.

Kaparo stressed that the Kenyan government, supported by the parliament, adheres to the one-China policy and will make no change on this issue.

Before the meeting, Wu met with the staff of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and representatives from Chinese companies, agencies and the Chinese community living in Kenya.

After the talks, Wu, accompanied by his wife Zhang Ruizhen and Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Redi, attended a welcome banquet held by Kaparo.

Kenya is the first leg of Wu's four-nation African tour, which will also take him to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Nigeria. It is the first visit to Africa by China's top legislator since the country's new leadership took office in early 2003.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2004)