Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, shakes hands with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer greeting him upon his arrival at an airport in Phoenix of Arizona state Sept. 6, 2009. Wu Bangguo arrived here on Sunday for an official goodwill visit to the U.S., the final leg of his three-nation America tour.

Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Sunday praised the fast growing regional cooperation between China and the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona as he started his U.S. tour in Phoenix.

Regional cooperation, as an important part of relations between nations, has served to enhance bilateral links, Wu said while meeting with Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Sunday evening.

"Recent years have witnessed rapid growth in the mutually beneficial cooperation and friendly exchanges between Arizona and China," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress. "China is now the fastest-growing export market for Arizona."

Their extensive exchanges in the fields of culture, education, science and technology have made an important contribution to the growth of China-U.S. ties, Wu said.

Arizona is competitive in aviation and aerospace technology, biotechnology, renewable energy, energy conservation, and environmental protection, while China is focusing on economic restructuring, industrial upgrade and change of development mode, Wu said.

"All of that brings a new, major opportunity for the two sides to deepen and expand cooperation," Wu said. "That's why I chose Arizona as the first stop of my U.S. tour."

The top Chinese legislator said he will focus on promoting trade and economic ties during his stay here mainly to ensure that the high-tech cooperation between China and Arizona, including?renewable energy and aviation and aerospace technology, is off to a new, good start.

For her part, Brewer said Wu's visit would greatly push forward Arizona's ties with China.

The successful investment in China by many businesses from Arizona has helped build closer ties and aroused the interest of other businesses in forging links with China, she said.

Brewer said Arizona is uniquely positioned for the development of renewable energy and stands ready to cooperate with China in this field. She pledged efforts to facilitate such cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2009)