Top legislators in China and Laos agreed in Beijing Wednesday to increase exchanges between their parliaments.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, met with Saman Vinhaket, president of the National Assembly of Laos in the Great Hall of the People Wednesday afternoon.

Wu said the NPC is ready to expand cooperation and exchanges with the Laotian National Assembly by strengthening exchanges between specialized committees and operational organs of the two parliaments. He expressed the wish that the two sides will exchange experience in such areas as legislation so as to add new vigor to the all-round development of relations between the two countries.

Wu also spoke highly of the growth of Sino-Laotian relations. He said friendship between the two neighboring countries has struck deep root in the hearts of the people of both countries. It is of great significance to strengthen relations between the two countries and their governing parties, Wu said.

China is ready to join efforts with Laos to continuously push forward long-term, stable, good-neighborly, friendly and mutual trustful relations and all-round cooperation between the two countries, Wu said.

Saman voiced his appreciation on the achievements China made in social and economic development and in building a democratic legal system. He thanked China for providing assistance to Laos. Saman expressed a willingness to learn from China's experience in reform, opening to the outside world and building democracy and a legal system. He said Laos is ready to advance friendly relations between the two countries, the two ruling parties and the two peoples.

Saman is in China as guest of Wu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

(Xinhua News Agency December 22, 2005)