Wu Bangguo, China's top legislator, met with Russian Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov on Thursday. Both leaders stressed the importance of parliamentary cooperation and the unique role it serves bilateral relations.

Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with Russia's State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov in Moscow, Russia, May 14, 2009. [Li Tao/Xinhua]?

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress(NPC), hailed the bilateral parliamentary cooperation at various levels in recent years.??

He noted that such cooperation should continue to serve the interests of bilateral ties. In particular, such cooperation should first serve the strategic mutual trust and the interests of the common concerns of China and Russia.

The NPC and the Russian Parliament should provide firm support to each other on major issues involving state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security, he said.

The two should also reinforce strategic cooperation in international and regional parliamentary organizations, safeguard common benefits, and create a conducive environment for the development of the two countries, Wu said.

Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), and Russia's State Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov attend the third meeting of the cooperation committee between NPC and the Russian State Duma in Moscow, Russia, May 14, 2009. [Li Tao/Xinhua]

Wu also stressed the need for joint efforts to counter the current financial crisis. He called on the parliamentary bodies to approve bilateral cooperation deals on oil and natural gas on time.

He also urged the implementation of already-signed cooperation agreements, and for support to help Chinese and Russian enterprises find new opportunities for cooperation within each other's economic stimulus plans.

The NPC and the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, should also be actively engaged in activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties and to broadly share the idea of friendship between the two nations, Wu said.

Gryzlov said parliamentary cooperation between Russia and China has served a significant and unique role in the fast development of bilateral ties.

Especially since the two parliaments established a regular exchange mechanism, more and more Duma legislators have been involved in promoting friendship between the two countries, he said.

The State Duma hopes to further strengthen its ties with the NPC, and to promote bilateral cooperation in areas such as politics, economy, culture, environment, anti-terrorism and anti-drug smuggling, Gryzlov said.

Wu is in Moscow for an official visit to Russia. Since arriving in Moscow on Wednesday, the legislator has met with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Sergei Mironov, chairman of the upper chamber of the Russian Parliament, known as the Federation Council.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2009)