Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo met with a US congress delegation led by Howard L. Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,?in Beijing?on Wednesday.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, spoke positively of the recent growth of the bilateral relations.

Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, shakes hands with US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman in Beijing, China, Aug. 19, 2009. [Rao Aimin/Xinhua]?

He called on the NPC and US congress to foster bilateral cooperation to a higher level with mutual trust, stressing the efforts will not only serve the fundamental interests of the two nations and two peoples, but also help maintain peace, stability and development in the world.

China is ready to work with the United States, increase dialogues and exchanges, respect each other's concern and core interests to push ahead with the Sino-US relations along the track of positive cooperation, Wu said.

Berman said he was delighted to witness the growth momentum of bilateral ties, noting that the two nations and the two legislative bodies should work closer to intensify high level exchange.

Berman also met with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan earlier Wednesday. They exchanged views on the global economic downturn, and pledged to work together to help the world economy to recover at an early date.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2009)