Visiting top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo met in Vancouver with Canadian Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day on Monday, calling on closer cooperation on trade.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the legislature of China, spoke positively of the recent growth of the China-Canada relationship, noting the two countries share common interests on many bilateral and international issues such as tackling the global financial crisis.

Wu stressed sound political ties would help inject vitality into bilateral trade relations.

Both China and Canada have significant influence over world affairs, he said, adding the two countries should make joint efforts to expand cooperative spheres and promote mutual investment especially for those large-scale projects.

China will work closer with Canada to develop the bilateral relationship from a long-term and strategic perspective, respect each other's key concerns, and handle sensitive issues between the two sides, Wu said.

Echoing Wu's views on the bilateral relations, Day expressed his appreciation to the measures that China adopted to curb the international financial crisis.

The minister also said Canada and China share such a tradition to work together and the Canadian government would remain adherent to its opening-up policy and hopes to cooperate with China in fields such as infrastructure construction, energy exploration, scientific innovation and tourism.

Wu also met Premier of Canada's British Columbia Gordon Campbell, expressing his hope that the British Columbia would give a full play to its scientific edge and resource advantage to cement its cooperation with Chinese provinces in forestry, fishery and mining industries as well as innovative industries like information, biology, pharmic manufacture and environment protection.

The top Chinese legislator arrived in Vancouver on Monday morning for a stopover prior to his visit to Cuba. The trip will also take him to the Bahamas and the United States.

(Xinhua News Agency September 1, 2009)